BRIDGE

West selected a fourth best diamond as declarer rode the queen of hearts to the king. West chose to switch to the queen of clubs but it was too late. South grabbed the ace, drew trump with the jack of hearts and led a spade to the jack. A trump to hand was followed by a second spade finesse. With spades breaking 3-2, a club was discarded on the fourth spade resulting in twelve tricks.

West had picked the wrong minor where the lead of the queen of clubs would have restricted declarer to eleven tricks. A diamond could have been right on another layout but West's length intimated that there would be few defensive winners in that suit.

North entertained some slam interest but was stumped by a rebid. A splinter (four diamonds), holding a singleton ace, could not be a consideration.

He could rebid three clubs with the intention of converting partner's rebid to four hearts. South would reveal three-card spade support but it is doubtful that South would make a move towards slam over partner's advance to four hearts.

A slam is only a viable contract without a club lead where South essentially requires one of two finesses.

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