Bridge

Suppose on today’s deal that you reach seven hearts or seven clubs. How would you plan the play after a diamond lead?

The auction is awkward. In Standard American, North would respond two clubs or, if possible, three clubs; South would rebid three hearts; and North would probably continue with four clubs. Then, goodness knows! It is also unclear in two-over-one game-force. I like four clubs by South over three clubs. Maybe North would show delayed support with four hearts. After that, South probably should wheel out some form of Blackwood, but it isn’t easy to reach a contract confident that it is best.

After a diamond lead, each grand slam requires playing the heart suit without loss. The right way to do that is to cash the heart ace (after drawing trumps when in seven clubs). Here, upon seeing the queen drop from West, declarer should enter the North hand and play a heart to the nine. If West had held queen-jack-doubleton, he might have played the jack instead of the queen. In these situations, assume West’s choice was restricted by having a singleton.