In today's deal (reported by Barry Rigal) from a Spingold Teams match at the ACBL Summer Championships, the bidding may strike you as slapdash. But North-South were opposed by one of the top seeds and felt they needed to take a chance or two.

Against six clubs, West led a diamond: three, nine, ace. Declarer, Roisin O'Hara, had to pick up the trumps plus, it appeared, take an extra red-suit trick or find East with the ace of spades.

West had that ace, but the slam came home anyway. When O'Hara cashed six rounds of trumps, East had to keep a guard to both red queens, hence he threw three spades, baring his queen.

11TH TRICK

Declarer next took the A-K of hearts and the king of diamonds. At the 11th trick dummy led a spade: queen, king, ace. South ruffed the diamond return and won the 13th trick with the high nine of spades. Making six!

Poor East fell victim to a rare type of squeeze called a "vise." It was sufficient consolation that his team won the match anyway.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S 7 4 H K J 8 4 2 D K J 7 3 C J 5. Your partner opens one club, you respond one heart and he bids one spade. What do you say?

ANSWER: Since partner's second bid could conceal a hand worth as many as 18 points, game is still possible. But your hand isn't strong enough for a forward-going second bid such as two diamonds. Bid 1NT, showing seven to 10 points, probably balanced. A rebid of two hearts would suggest longer or at least stronger hearts.