“The combat deepens. On, ye brave, Who rush to glory or the grave!” – Thomas Campbell

It always amazes me to see a player tackle a grand slam at breakneck speed.

If you can’t be bothered to spend a little extra time on a grand slam, what contract will be worth it?

Before touching a card, consider your play in seven spades on a top diamond lead.

It will be worth the effort today.

You win the diamond ace, of course, and now if you play a spade to your ace, shame on you.

The 4-0 trump break takes you down before you start.

By contrast, if you lead a spade to your 10, your opponents will hold their cards back for the rest of the week, rightfully suspecting you of peeking!

Taking the spade king, then planning a trump finesse if necessary, looks best.

Close, but no cigar: If you take the trump king, you still will need to ruff two diamonds in hand and take the trump finesse.

The unlucky 5-1 club split dooms you.

Instead, ruff a diamond immediately and only then lead a spade to the king.

If trumps split, you draw them and claim 13 tricks.

When East has the length, ruff another diamond, play a club to dummy, take the spade finesse and cash the spade ace.

Now you can cross to the heart king and draw the last trump, pitching a club from hand, and claim.

Your dummy reversal has produced 13 tricks and rewarded your forethought.

Bid with the aces

South holds:

Answer: Rather than bid one spade, jump to two no-trump to show your range and hand-type.

Bidding one spade may well work best if partner has a minimum hand.

But if he has a good hand, you may never be able to persuade him you have so many high cards and are so balanced.