I’ve covered today’s hand a few times over the years and when it danced before me again last night I decided that was a signal to do it again.

I first saw the hand in a book by Freddie North called ‘Bridge in the Looking Glass’ and it fascinated me then and it still fascinates me now. The foresight of the declarer in planning the hand at trick one was and is as impressive a play as I have seen.

(Spades / Hearts / Diamonds / Clubs)

North: AJ8 / A6542 / 3 / A764

South: K3 / 3 / AKQ10975 / KQ3

The minute North opened the bidding with One Heart in a Team game South was going to either a small or grand slam … he checked on Aces, found partner with 3 and bid 7 Diamonds, as opposed to 7NT, as we will see a great decision and justified at Teams.

West led the Heart King and when dummy came down it was clear that declarer could claim 13 tricks if the Diamonds broke.

This, however, was an expert declarer who was taught to provide for the worst when it all looked good — declarer won the Heart and then at trick two made the seemingly useless play of ruffing a Heart with the Diamond 9.

He now played trump and was disappointed to see West discard a club on the second round, meaning East had started with Jxxx and had a certain winner … maybe!

Declarer’s trump reduction play at trick two now made some sense but he still needed a bit to happen for success … most of all he needed three entries to dummy to reduce his trumps twice more and to get there for the trump coup.

Now let me show you the full hand:

(Spades / Hearts / Diamonds / Clubs)

North: AJ8 / A6542 / 3 / A764

East: 96 / J987 / J864 / J102

South: K3 / 3 / AKQ10975/ KQ3

West: Q107542 / KQ10/ 2 / 985

With this in mind at trick 5 declarer took the bull by the horns in trying to create a third entry and led a low spade from hand and put in the jack from dummy.

When this held he ruffed another Heart, crossed to the club Ace and ruffed a third Heart. This was now the position:

(Spades / Hearts / Diamonds / Clubs)

North: A8 / 2 / None / 764

East: 9 / None / J8 / J10

South: K / none / Q10 / KQ

West: Q107 / none / none / 98

Knowing that he needed East to hold at least two more Clubs declarer cashed the Clubs and then played the Spade King, overtaking with the Ace.

East had to follow helplessly and now it didn’t matter what declarer did as with the Q10 sitting over East’s J8 the last two tricks were his … Grand Slam made!

Wonderful thinking and play by declarer. His trump reduction play at trick 2 was brilliant and then when he needed West to hold the spade queen and East to hold at least three Clubs he played for it and was rewarded … superb.

But what if West had played the Spade Queen at trick 5.