Two chances are better than one

Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States, said, "It is a damn poor mind indeed that can't think of at least two ways of spelling any word."

In this deal, though, there are two ways for South to try to amass 12 tricks in six no-trump. After West leads the club nine, South chews over the options - which should he choose?

When South opened one no-trump, showing 15-17 points, North knew the combined values were 32-34 points. The magic number for six no-trump without a five-card suit or a 4-4 fit is 33. So North drove into slam via Gerber, which asked for aces. North's alternative was to respond with a quantitative four no-trump. Here South, with a maximum 17 points, would have jumped to six no-trump.