The long summer continues for the avid bridge player and I remember it as being a frustrating period during my 'addiction' years low attendances at the Club, no tournaments and so on ¿ and I used to look forward to September, the Sectional and the fall season.

It is, however, always a good time to do a bit of bridge reading and to even get together with your partner and practise the system outside the heat of competition.

You can also practise your declarer play, either by playing or going online and this is certainly an area where newer players can see huge improvement after a bit of work.

With a lot of work, you may even get to a stage where you can make the grand slam on the hand below!

Dealer South

None Vulnerable

North

" A K J 6

A K J 9 2

Q

A K 10

West East

" Q 9 8 5 3 2 " 7 4

Q 5 4 3 10 7

3 J 9 7 6

9 8 Q 7 6 5 3

South

" 10

8 6

A K 10 8 5 4 2

J 4 2

The hand came up on OK Bridge. North was admiring his hand and getting ready for a 2 club opener when partner opened the bidding 3 Diamonds!

South North

3 5NT

7

5NT was the grand slam force, asking partner to bid the grand slam with two of the three top honours in trumps and South did as he was told!

West led the diamond three. The contract looks doomed by the horrible trump break but all is not lost.

After winning the diamond queen, you cash the ace and king of hearts and ruff a heart. When you take the ace of diamonds, you discover the bad break.

Undeterred, you lead a spade to the king and cash the ace, pitching a club from hand. After ruffing another heart, you return to dummy with the king of clubs. That leaves this position with dummy on lead:

North

" J

J

K 10

West East

" Q 9 8 5 "

J 9

Q 7

South

"

K 10 8

J

You lead the good jack of hearts, and when East discards a club, you ruff your good trick. Return to dummy with the ace of clubs and you have a coup position over East's jack-9 of trumps.

Well played!!!