DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

“Because there aren’t any fours.” — NBA player Antoine Walker, asked why he took so many three- point shots.

Some bridge players would rather miss from three- point range than score on an uncontested layup. When today’s South scraped up a two- spade bid, North roared into seven even though South might have had a trump or heart loser.

West led a heart ( not best), and South won, cashed the ace of diamonds, led a trump to his hand, ruffed a diamond, ruffed a heart high and ruffed his last diamond. He drew trumps and took dummy’s high clubs, but when East turned up with J- 10- 9- 4, declarer had a club loser.

“Avoid speculative grand slams,” South advised his partner.

I agree, but I can’t fault North here. South makes seven spades on a dummy reversal. The play: ace of hearts, heart ruff high, club to dummy’s ace, heart ruff high, trump to dummy, heart ruff, ace of diamonds, heart ruff. South can then ruff a diamond and win the rest with the J- 10 of trumps and K- Q of clubs. DAILY QUESTION You hold: partner opens one diamond. The next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: Though you have 19 points plus a fivecard suit and will probably end at slam, the best strain is uncertain: You may belong at any of the four suits or at notrump. To save room to investigate, bid one heart. A jump- shift should show a self- sufficient suit, excellent support for partner’s suit or a strong balanced hand. East dealer Both sides vulnerable