Unambiguous
|
 Q 8 5 |
|
 K |
|
 A K 7 5 2 |
|
 K 9 6 2 |
| 7 |
|
K J 10 9 6 |
| J 9 8 6 2 |
|
10 7 5 4 |
| Q 10 6 4 3 |
|
J 9 8 |
| 8 7 |
|
A |
|
A 4 3 2 |
|
|
A Q 3 |
|
|
------ |
|
|
Q J 10 5 4 3 |
|
Well, I've finally come across a totally unambiguous (no finesses) laydown slam in a minor with a super-fit and a singleton or void in each hand. Three no trump also makes, most easily when played by the North hand, where a spade lead would actually mean 12 winners, but even from the South hand declarer should pick up 11 winners on a spade lead. Since the 7 is a singleton, declarer could duck all around with impunity. But he shouldn't, since he can't stand another spade through the Q, and should cover with the 8. East presumably covers, but declarer ducks, and now the spade threat is nullified, since declarer would duck a spade continuation and can now go about knocking out the A of clubs.
So 3 no's safe, but at a bit of a cost with a laydown minor suit slam. Those making 11 tricks in no trump got 45% while those making slam got 87%, which is quite a big difference. One went down in slam on the spade lead. He didn't figure on a singleton, but he can obviate danger by winning, cashing the king of hearts, entering the closed hand with a diamond ruff and pitching spades on the heart honors.
In any event, as valuable as preferring no trump to a minor on fairly balanced hands with no superfit or singletons will usually turn out to be (with 26+ hcp's), there are these hands where a superfit with shortages will serve you better in the minor. Often, you can either make slam in the minor and only game in no trump, or you can make game in the minor and go down on an inadequately stopped suit in no trump.
I just went back to see how five declarers handled the 7 of spades lead in 3 no. The first four all made the safety play of covering with the 8 and ducking East's cover. The last one boldly -- or foolishly? -- went up with the ace. Well, when you think about it, only a subsequent lead through the queen could do harm, meaning spades were splitting 4-2 and thus the contract couldn't be defeated. Not so terribly foolish after all. Yes, three no is cold from any angle. But so is 6 clubs.