DAILY BRIDGE CLUB:

Here’s another instructive deal from my trip to Birmingham, Alabama, for an evening of bridge with three old friends.

As East, I responded one spade to my partner’s double, and South, Jim Foster, took the opportunity to mention his club suit. He struck gold: West showed strength with 2NT, but North, Mark Jones, appreciated the potential of his hand and jumped to four clubs. Foster boldly went on to game, and West, with 21 good points, got out the hammer.

Foster ruffed the heart opening lead and led a spade. If West ducked, the queen would win, and declarer could take the A-K of diamonds to pitch dummy’s last spade and embark on a successful crossruff.

So West grabbed his ace and led ace and jack of trumps, but then Foster set up his long diamonds with ruffs in dummy. Making five. There was no way to stop 11 tricks.

Remember this deal the next time your opponents bid a lot and you have a ton of points. They know something about the distribution that you don’t.

DAILY QUESTION: You hold: A63 AKQ4 QJ65 A J. You open 2NT (21 or 22 points), and partner responds three hearts, a transfer. You bid three spades, and he raises to four spades. What do you say?

ANSWER: As most pairs play, partner’s sequence is a try for slam. If content to play at game, he would have transferred at the four level. Your spade support is only fair. Cue-bid five clubs to try for slam.