DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

Here’s one more deal from my monthly game in Birmingham with old friends and teammates.

My opponents rolled into seven hearts. South’s bid of two hearts forced to game; North’s three clubs showed no extra strength in his style. Against the grand slam, West led a spade, and declarer took dummy’s ace and led the queen. When I as East threw a diamond, he ruffed, led a trump to dummy and returned the jack of diamonds.

My king covered — maybe I should have played low — and declarer took the A-Q, West following with the five and 10.

South had 12 tricks — seven hearts, two diamonds, two clubs and a spade — and could have guessed to play for a double squeeze by running his trumps. At the end, West would have to save a spade and East a diamond. Neither defender could keep three clubs, and dummy would win a third club trick.

But South had a different idea: He tried to ruff his last diamond in dummy — and succeeded when West couldn’t produce a second trump! Making seven.

Daily question

You hold: ♠ AQJ 6 5 ♥ Q 5

♦ J9 ♣ K J 4 2. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one spade, he bids two hearts and you try three clubs. Partner then bids 3NT. What do you say?

Answer: Partner’s two hearts was a “reverse” and promised substantial extra strength — in some styles, enough for game opposite a minimum response. Though most of your honors are “quacks,” slam is possible. Raise to 4NT.

North dealer

Neither side vulnerable