BRIDGE

When someone mentions a grand slam to you, what do you think about?

Probably you wonder about winning 13 tricks at the bridge table. Golfers and tennis players will hope they can capture all four majors in those sports and be called grand slam champions. Linda Evangelista, a Canadian model, probably would not have had much company when her thoughts went this way: “Within two months I made the grand slam: covers of‘americanvogue,’‘italianvogue,’ ‘British Vogue’ and ‘French Vogue.’”

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-overone 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-jackdoubleton, he might have played the jack instead of the queen. In these situations, assume West’s choice was restricted by having a singleton.