Defending against slams should be much easier than against games, and, to go a step further, against part scores. That is because against a slam, you only need two tricks to defeat a small slam, and by the same token, you have to do your best to make it harder for declarer to make twelve tricks. How many inexperienced players give the slam away on the opening lead? And how many equally inexperienced players return the favour by equally poor declarer play? You’d be surprised. It is especially true in the case of slams that a poor opening lead will allow a slam to make but poor declarer play can allow a poor lead to succeed. Let’s take a look at a deal where two possible slams were bid, albeit not all that often.
Board 3 from Wednesday 24/07/24
Dealer South EW Vul
After three passes, East opens 2C and West responds 2NT, a positive response that shows a balanced had with 8-11 HCP. Specifically 8-11 because West is a passed hand. Fairly normal bidding. Some Easts would immediately ask for aces and then bid 6NT, others might look for a trump contract and bid 3H and then ask for aces when West shows heart support. So, there are two opening lead problems, one for North against 6NT and one for South against 6H. I was therefore able to poll my panel of players on both.
Before reading the next chapter, take a look at all the hands, just to make it easier to decide, and ask yourself what YOU would lead if you were SOUTH, against 6H, and if you were NORTH, against 6NT, bid as I have suggested the slams might be bid.
QJ93
54
863
KT75