QUICK CROSSWORD

In one of his golf stories, P. G. Wodehouse wrote, “There are three things in the world that he held in the smallest esteem — slugs, poets and caddies with hiccups.”

My wife and I are not fond of hiccups in slam deals. At Bridge Base Online last month, we had one. Look at the North hand. Your partner opens two no- trump, promising anything from an excellent 19 to a poor 22 ( if there is such a thing), and usually at least two aces and three kings or three aces and one king. What would be your plan?

You are clearly in the small- slam zone, but a suit contract in a 4- 4 fit might generate an extra trick that cannot be collected in no- trump.

In this deal, the winning response is three clubs, Stayman. Then, when partner shows four hearts, you might leap straight to six hearts — real bridge players don’t need Blackwood!

With a 3- 2 heart break, you take an easy 12 tricks: one spade, four hearts, four diamonds, two clubs and a club ruff in the South hand.

My wife used Gerber, then bid six no- trump. I sympathized, especially as I had only 19 points, but the contract was unmakable. Strangely, West led a diamond, not the club queen. I won on the board and led the spade seven. East took the trick with the queen and returned a spade to the ace. Now if East had had the courtesy to hold at least six clubs, I would have squeezed him in the black suits, but it was not to be.

Two pairs got to six hearts after North opened one diamond and raised a one- heart response to game. One North made six no- trump when East led the spade king. Eight stopped in game, and two failed in grand slams. Copyright United Feature Syndicate

( Asia Features)