QUICK CROSSWORD

In yesterday’s deal, South used Blackwood with a void, then raised to a slam despite knowing that two aces were missing. In this deal, South used Roman Key Card Blackwood with two voids! What would you have done in his place as dealer?

South's opening bid is not clear- cut. One heart shows the longer and stronger suit. But if EastWest pre- empt the auction, South might find it hard to mention his spades. By starting with one spade, a four- heart rebid would describe the hand fairly well, but risk playing in the wrong suit if North corrects to four spades.

In this auction, two clubs was natural and game- forcing; and two spades indicated threecard support. ( Some pairs would have jumped to three spades to show a particularly suitable hand.) Now one South, not shown, found the dynamite choice of six hearts! Then surely North should have bid seven spades, but he bid only six spades — which would have been lucky if East had doubled seven spades to ask for a heart lead.

At this table, South used Roman Key Card Blackwood to learn that partner had either zero or three aces. Now South, assuming three aces, settled for six spades. He could have asked for the spade queen, but would still not have been sure that North had both major- suit aces.

Somehow, West found the heart lead to hold the contract to six. Then West probably regretted that he had not made a three- diamond weak jump overcall, because seven diamonds doubled would have been a cheap save — unless it pushed South into seven hearts. Copyright United Feature Syndicate

( Asia Features)