The hand this month is a hand that turned up at the 2008 Teams at Brighton.  You are sitting North opposite Mike Brown - who was playing from a wheel chair following a bit of a disc problem on the Friday morning of the event.  Would it affect his concentration I hear you ask?  Well I'll let you be the judge of that....  Here is a critical deal that we played on the Saturday evening against two England youth internationals sporting gold shirts and 'bridge4money.com' logos.  We learned that they were being sponsored by David Gold, the England international.  It reminded me that I then had a balance of -$200 on his blooming website!  (now somewhat improved...) We must make a profit here!

                A97
                AKJ9
                AK
                KQ85

                Q62
                853
                5
                AJ10732
  Bidding-
     

   W            N            E             S
                                                 P
    P            2D*          P           2H**

    P            2N            P           6C!!

    P            ??

Well what now!!  Partner must have a least six clubs - you've got a likely ruff or two in diamonds,  Partner must have the club ace....surely 7C must be lay down or at least on the Heart finesse at worst?  Well you now know what I did - and the 7C card was on the table.  Now over to my partner - is he going to make it?  What's your line on the lead of a diamond?  Would it be different if you were in 6C?

Have a think and - click here to see if you have got it right!
 
 
  * game forcing in any suit or balanced 23/24

  ** relay

Clive Keep October 2008