You're first to speak in an Imp Pair event. What is your call?

 South
   A 7 6 5 2
   A Q J 7
   K 10
   A K

You open 1. You have the power for a two-bid, but the spades are
weak and you want to show both majors and hear what partner has to
say in a low-level natural auction.

Partner bids a forcing 1NT and you jump to 3. Partner now jumps to
4. What's that mean? What's your next call?

 South
   A 7 6 5 2
   A Q J 7
   K 10
   A K

The jump to 4 should show a limit raise in spades with three trumps.
With less than that partner would bid 3 (which is usually only a
doubleton spade). So you launch into Keycard Blackwood.

Partner shows two keycards without the trump queen. He must hold the
king-third of spades and the ace of diamonds. What is your next call,
6 or 6NT?

 South
   A 7 6 5 2
   A Q J 7
   K 10
   A K

You bid 6, not 6NT. This hand might play better in 6NT, if spades
are 4-1 and partner has some minor-suit tricks. But it might play
better in spades, if, for example partner holds a singleton heart.
Perhaps a 6 bid could work here as an esoteric probe for the best
slam, but you decide to bid 6 and discuss the possibility of a 6
bid over drinks later.

West leads the 5 of diamonds. Dummy comes down:

North    K 9 3    9 8    A Q 9 6    J 7 5 4

South    A 7 6 5 2    A Q J 7    K 10    A K

You play the 6 from dummy and East plays the jack. How do you
play the slam?

 South
   A 7 6 5 2
   A Q J 7
   K 10
   A K

You may be able to avoid a heart finesse. You have two discards on
the diamonds, and if the queen of clubs is lying third, you can set
up the jack in dummy.

Cash the ace-king of clubs. Then cash the ace and king of spades.
Then ruff a club. The queen falls! Now run your diamond tricks and
jack of clubs, discarding three hearts. The only trick for the
defenders is a trump trick. The full hand was:

	North    K 9 3    9 8    A Q 9 6    J 7 5 4
West Q 8 4 K 2 8 5 4 3 2 Q 9 3	East J 10 10 6 5 4 3 J 7 10 8 6 2
	South    A 7 6 5 2    A Q J 7    K 10    A K

This hand was written up in the October issue of Australian Bridge
Magazine (www.australianbridge.com). Well done, mate!

THE END

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 South
   A 7 6 5 2
   A Q J 7
   K 10
   A K

South 1 3 4NT 6	West pass pass pass all pass	North 1NT* 4     5**	East pass pass pass
* forcing **two keycards with the trump queen

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