QUICK CROSSWORD

Wozniacki said, “Reaching my first grand slam final was amazing, and I didn't expect it at just 19 years old.” But she probably also thought that she would win her first grand slam title before 27.

Recently, I have seen several interesting slam deals. Look only at the North hand. What would you do after West opens three clubs?

When you have decided, look also at the South hand and decide how you would play in six hearts after West leads the spade five.

Over three clubs, North has a nightmare decision unless he has some way of announcing a big twosuiter that can include diamonds. ( Most pairs treat four clubs as showing both majors.) If North makes a takeout double, South might pass that out and probably collect 800 ( one spade, one heart, two diamonds and three clubs after the diamond- ace lead). Alternatively, South might advance with three hearts. Then North would drive to six hearts. If North overcalls four no- trump, surely six hearts will be reached.

In six hearts, the lead must be a singleton, but it also leaves South with two potential major- suit losers. How to eliminate one requires some guesswork. But it seems reasonable to assume that West has the club acequeen for his vulnerable pre- empt. Then the play goes: Win with the spade ace, cash the heart ace ( no luck), play a diamond to the queen and lead the club king to ruff out West’s ace. After trumping a diamond in hand, South leads the club jack and ruffs away West’s queen. Back to hand with a second diamond ruff, dummy’s last spade disappears on the club 10. East’s ruff is too late. Copyright United Feature Syndicate

( Asia Features)