16th October 2019

Dealer North
S
A
   
Both Vul
H
A98
   
    D -    
    C AKQJ76542
   
S
Q7432
    S
J6
H
105
    H
J763
D
AQ874
    D
J10965
C
10
    C
93
    S
K10985
   
    H
KQ42
   
    D
K32
   
    C
8
   


South
West
North
East


2C Pass
2D Pass 4C Pass
4NT Pass 5C Pass
6NT Pass 7C Pass
Pass Pass




This spectacular deal is from the fourth and final round of the Northern Bridge League.

North (Gary Hyett) opened with the strong bid of two clubs and South (Rodney Lighton) responded two diamonds.  Despite holding eleven points none of South's suits were good enough to respond with a positive in their methods.  North now showed a solid suit with his jump to four clubs.  South could see that there would be plenty of tricks and bid four notrump, Roman Key Card Blackwood.  North showed four key cards (he could have bid five notrump to show four key cards and a void).  South, thinking there was an ace missing bid six notrump to protect his kings and North decided that there must be a good play for the grand, so bid it.

Surprisingly only five of the fourteen tables in the A division bid the grand and two pairs even played in game.  The success rate was similar in the B and C divisions, though a few played in notrump.  When played from the North hand on a diamond lead this was particularly disastrous.