BRIDGE

As the bridge at the Mad Hatter’s continued, the Red Queens kept up their debate over who was greater.

“My cousin can’t abide her card being captured,” the Queen of Diamonds told Alice. “But losing a trick can be better than winning one.”

“Of course, your majesty,” Alice said wearily.

“Deal,” the Queen sniffed. “I’ll show you.”

So Alice dealt and became declarer at six hearts. West, the Hatter, led the ace of spades, and Alice ruffed and drew trumps. How should she continue?

Alice saw that to avoid the club finesse, she needed three diamond tricks — for two club discards from dummy. But to lead to the ace and then lead the nine would work only if East held K-J-x or J-x-x.

Alice found the best play. At Trick Four, she led the queen of diamonds. West’s king covered — to play low would not have helped — and Alice took the ace, forced out East’s jack and won the rest.

“Well done,” the Queen of Diamonds nodded. “See what I mean?”

Question: You hold: ♠ None ♥ AQ7632 ♦ Q1083 ♣AK 5. Your partner opens one diamond. The next player passes. What do you say?

Answer: Slam chances are so bright that you should let partner know immediately. Jump-shift to two hearts, planning to support the diamonds next. If he has Q 6 5 ,K 5,A K 9 6 5,6 3 2—a borderline opening — you can make seven diamonds. Some pairs use “weak jumpshifts,” a treatment I do not favor because it makes big hands harder to handle. South dealer Both sides vulnerable