How to Make Your Slams

In this lesson:

Of course, the opportunities to bid and make a slam do not occur as often as you would like.

Good slam bidding is not easy. Although few experts would admit it, even the best players in the world do not shine here.

Of course, even if you bid well and get to a good slam contract, if it is not a laydown, you still have to try to find the line of play that gives you the best chance to make it. On most deals, that is easier said than done.

For each deal, Marty will explain exactly what you should think about and how you should decide the best way to proceed.

This includes:

Bidding

• - Little known but useful conventions
• - How to get to the best slam contract
• - How to have a good auction after interference
• - When should you make an unnecessary jump
• - Good auctions after opening 2♣
• - The key factor in bidding minor-suit slams

Play

• - How to give yourself extra chances
• - How to give a defender a choice of losing options
• - How to avoid depending on a finesse
• - When to not rely on "8 ever, 9 never."
• - How to overcome a bad split
• - How to recognize when to plan on an endplay
• - How to make a slam on a squeeze

Here is an example of what Marty will discuss:

Contract 6♠ by South.
Lead: ♣10

After North's jump raise, you are delighted to bid 4NT. When partner responds 5♠ (2 keycards + trump queen), you bid 6♠.

East wins dummy's ♣J with the ♣Q and leads the ♣A. You ruff and draw trump.

Now what?

Answer

You could cash the ♥A and then get to dummy to finesse East for the ♥Q. Or, because of North's four diamond honors, you could take a ruffing finesse in diamonds. If East has the ♦K, you could develop two additional winners to discard your ♥2 and ♥J.

Both finesses are 50-50 propositions. Can you improve your odds?

Since two chances are better than one, yes you can. It costs nothing to first cash the ♥A and ♥K. You don't expect the ♥Q to fall, but it might. If the ♥Q does not fall, you can still lead a diamond to the ♦A and take the ruffing finesse

On this deal, since West started with the ♥Q5 doubleton, your good technique is rewarded.

Here is the complete deal: