Think giving declarer a ruff-sluff is criminal? Today's deal may change your mind.

In a team match at the Summer Championships, both Wests led the ace of clubs against six diamonds. One West shifted to the queen of spades, and South won, drew trumps and set up the hearts, making six easily.

In the replay, West led a second club at Trick Two, giving South an unwanted ruff-sluff. South threw a spade from dummy, ruffed in his hand and started the trumps, but when trumps broke 3-1 and hearts broke 4-1, his slam failed.

SPADES

The second South could have succeeded even after his play to the second trick, but his simplest play was to discard the king of hearts from dummy, ruff in his hand, take the ace of hearts, lead a trump to his hand and ruff a heart. He could lead a second trump to his hand, ruff a heart, take the ace of spades, ruff a spade, draw trumps and claim.

Be willing to give declarer a ruff-sluff if he has no losers to sluff. You may weaken his trumps.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S A 9 8 6 4 2 H A K D Q J 8 6 C 7. Your partner opens one club, you bid one spade and he raises to two spades. What do you say?

ANSWER: A suitable hand for partner such as J 10 5 3, 6 5 4, A K, A J 5 4 or K 10 5 3, J 5 4, K 4, A J 5 4 will produce a slam, so you should try to get there. Bid three diamonds. If partner jumps to four spades, you can try again with a cue bid of five hearts. A principle of slam bidding: If slam is possible, make a try; involve your partner.