Hopeless Slam? Or a Certain one.

You put up the ♦ A from dummy, win a high ♥ , cash ♣ A, come to hand with ♥ A – west following twice and east discarding a club, and ruff a ♣  in dummy. So west now has 6♦ , 3♣ , 2♥  leaving room for only 2♠ . Perhaps that doubleton includes the queen. It really should as otherwise he could hardly have an opening hand unless his clubs are KQJ. 

So you cash dummy’s ♠ AK and her highness makes an appearance on your left.

You are upto 11 tricks – or is it 12?

It is indeed 12 – so long as you don’t ruff your ♠  loser. Use that precious card to throw away a ♦  loser. 

East – who never expected to win a trick, atleast not this hand, suddenly finds himself the winner of only defensive trick. Only because all he has left are clubs – and the ruff discard gets rid of your last loser.

It was a cold slam afterall -wasn’t it 🙂