TWO LUCKY SLAMS.

I played both these lucky slams at Northampton Bridge Club. First, at teams with a combined 19 count.

N/S Vul. Dealer E	8 7 6 4 3 7 6 4 3 8 Q J 3
A 5 9 K Q J 9 2 K 10 9 4 2	N   W E   S	10 K J 8 2 7 5 3 A 8 7 6 5	East.	South.	West.	North.
	K Q J 9 2 A Q 10 5 A 10 6 4 -		- 4 - -	1 4 6 -	2NT 5 X	3 - -

We were playing a superior team (what's new?) and needed a good result for a respectable final score.
East dealt and passed, and sitting South I opened 1.
West jumped to 2 NT and partner, holding 3 points, decided this was her only chance to support me and bid 3. East bid 4 and I cue-bid 4. West bid 5.
The bidding at the other table followed a similar pattern, and now their South made the good decision to take the 500 points on offer by doubling. I rashly jumped to 6. West, on the brink of becoming a grandmaster, doubled and led his heart.
Muttering something about my sanity, partner spread her dummy. I needed a miracle in hearts and I had received the only lead to give me a chance. It was obvious to me that West would be 5-5(+) in the minors for his 2 NT bid, and as he expected to get me off his heart must have been a singleton. East did not come to the same conclusion and helped by making the easy mistake of playing the K instead of the deuce.
I won with the ace, played A and ruffed a diamond. A trump to the King and ace was followed by a club to the ace, ruffed. The last trump was drawn, and another diamond ruff put me in dummy to play a heart. When East followed with the deuce, I triumphantly finessed the 5 and claimed my contract with another diamond ruff and heart finesse.
If East had played the deuce at trick one she would have destroyed my finesse position, and her king would later become the setting trick as her partner kept pointing out. My partner called me her hero.

A 'BRILLIANTLY' BID SLAM

All Vul. Dealer E	- K J 5 K Q 10 9 7 6 3 2 10 3
K Q 8 7 2 7 4 3 4 K 8 6 5	N   W E   S	J 9 5 3 A Q 10 6 J 8 9 7 2	East.	South.	West.	North.
	A 10 6 4 9 8 2 A 5 A Q J 4		- - - - -	1 2 4 -	- - - - -	1 3 6

Shortly after, partner and I took part in a simultaneous and afterwards I was very interested in the commentary on board 10.
According to the book, "Top score will go to the N/S pairs allowed to play in 3NT, especially if South does not take the club finesse. E/W can save profitably in 4 ...whereupon N/S will do very well to play in 4NT rather than the hopeless 5 contract.
I didn't play in the hopeless 5, but in 6. What's more, I made it so did I get a British top for it (I couldn't check at the time)?
I sat North. Partner opened l and I bid I. For some reason, partner didn't want to take a chance on hearts to rebid INT so overbid 2. I didn't have many points, but thought 3NT might be worth trying in view of my long suit, and instead of just bidding it, found myself bidding a fourth suit forcing 3 - in case partner had support. Partner thought for a while then decided to bid 4. I thought my hand had gained some points and jumped to 6.
Looking at all four hands, it's easy to see that I must lose at least two hearts and a club, but not so easy if you're East and have to find a lead. My use of fourth suit forcing and partner's refusal to bid NT convinced him that neither of us had heart honours! He therefore led the A and followed up with the 6 making both my remaining hearts winners. I gratefully drew trumps, crossed to the A and threw my losing club on the A. Easy when you know how.