By Andrei Shudnev

Every time you sit down to play a session of bridge it is essential that you put your trust in the ability of your partner, because after all no one forced you to play with them.

It becomes even more important when the bidding rapidly escalates, as this deal from the third session of the Mixed.

Board 28 Dealer West. North/South Vul
	ª 8 © A J 8 4 ¨ Q 3 § A Q J 8 7 6
ª K Q 5 3 © K 9 7 3 ¨ 9 § 9 5 3 2		ª A J 10 9 7 6 4 2 © Q 5 ¨ 6 5 § 4
	ª - © 10 6 2 ¨ A K J 10 8 7 4 2 § K 10

West	North	East	South
	Shudnev		Romanovska
Pass	1§	4ª	6¨
6ª	Pass*	Pass	7¨
All Pass

As you can see my partner, Romanovska, is not shy in the bidding, and her jump to Six Diamonds was an excellent practical bid. When West was able to raise spades I decided to make a forcing pass. Now, trusting me to hold good clubs and the ace of hearts Maia bid the laydown grand slam. It was not so easy now for East/West to take the save, and as you might imagine we did not score too badly on this deal..