As the game at the Mad Hatter’s went on, Alice noted that when the Hatter was the dealer, the cards ran wild.
In today’s deal, the Hatter dealt and passed, and Alice opened one heart. When the Dormouse, West, tried two diamonds, North, the Mock Turtle, had a rather sound penalty double.
The Hatter nervously took a bite out of his teacup and ran to two spades. When Alice tried three clubs, the Mock Turtle understandably burst into tears. From there, the auction went sour, with the Turtle refusing to face the reality of a misfit. He finally took a heart preference on his void at the level of six.
“Of all the unsatisfactory bidding,” Alice grumbled when she saw dummy. But she ruffed the opening lead and cashed her high trumps, pitching dummy’s A-K-Q-J of spades. Alice then took the ace of clubs and led the five of spades. The Hatter took the 10 but had to put Alice in her hand. When the clubs broke 3-3, she had the rest.
“Partner, your bid of six hearts was brilliant,” Alice remarked. “Six clubs would fail. West would lead a high diamond, and East could ruff, forcing me to overruff with an honor. I could take the ace of clubs but couldn’t get back to my hand without suffering a ruff or another uppercut.”
“She couldn’t have made it without the nine of spades,” the Dormouse said dazedly.
“Without that card,” Alice smiled, “I wouldn’t have bid slam.”