DAILY BRIDGE CLUB:

Entering the last set of the Senior Teams final at the 2017 World Championships, the United States (Jeff Wolfson-Neil Silverman, Mike BeckerAllan Graves, Dave Berkowitz-Alan Sontag) had a slim lead over Italy. Italy had just gone down in two poor slams, else they would have been well ahead.

With the match still tight, North-South for Italy got to five diamonds in today’s deal, a safe contract even if declarer lost a club to the queen. He could pitch a heart on the fifth club, losing only a spade and a club.

In the replay, Berkowitz landed at five clubs, where picking up the trumps looked crucial. Declarer ruffed the second spade, and when he took the A-K of trumps next, he was faced with three losers.

Berkowitz didn’t give up. He took the A-K of hearts, then ran the diamonds. When West refused to ruff, Berkowitz exited with a trump. West had to yield a ruff-sluff, and declarer’s heart loser went away.

Making five, a tied deal, and the U.S. went on to win.

DAILY QUESTION: You hold: ♠ KJ843 ♥ 92 ◆ 7 62 ♣ Q 7 2. The dealer, at your left, opens one diamond. Your partner doubles, you bid one spade and he raises to two spades. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner has a huge hand. He is willing to undertake an eight-trick contract, and for all he knows, you have no points and four poor spades. Since you actually have a good five-card suit and a useful queen as well, bid four spades.