DAILY BRIDGE CLUB:

In the finals at the 2017 World Championships, North-South had a chance to gain by bidding a good grand slam.

In the Open Teams, the bidding went the same unsuccessful way at both tables: South’s five diamonds conventionally asked how many nondiamond aces North held. When he had none, South signed off at six spades. He won a diamond, two top hearts and 10 more tricks on a crossruff.

In the Women’s Teams, both North-Souths halted at six spades, as did a U.S. pair in the Seniors event. Only Italy’s seniors got to seven.

It was suggested that a trump lead would beat seven spades. (True, West didn’t have a trump; East asserted that a good partner would find one.) But with that lead, South could crossruff diamonds and clubs until dummy was left with K-9-8 of hearts and a diamond, and declarer had A-3 of hearts, the king of clubs and a trump.

Then the lead of declarer’s last trump would effect a double squeeze. Dummy’s nine of hearts would win the 13th trick.

DAILY QUESTION: You hold: ♠ None ♥ Q76 ◆ K Q98643 ♣ J 7 3. Neither side vulnerable. You deal and open three diamonds, and your partner bids three hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: When you pre-empt, a new-suit response by your partner is forcing. Here, you should be eager to continue; your hand could hardly be better in support of a heart contract. Raise to four hearts or, better, bid three spades.