Bidding and making a slam are one of bridge’s pure joys. Failing to bid a slam that makes is one of its pure frustrations. In fairness, sometimes getting there isn’t easy. Take board 11 at the Bridge Club of Martha’s Vineyard on July 15, with South dealing and no one vulnerable:

NORTH
♠ K 6 2
♥ A J 2
♦ K Q 9 6
♣ K 10 2

WEST                    EAST
♠ J 8 4                    ♠ 10 5 3
♥ K 9 8 4               ♥ 10 7 6 3
♦ 5 4 3                   ♦ 10 8 2
♣ 9 8 5                  ♣ J 7 3

SOUTH
♠A Q 9 7
♥Q 5
♦A J 7
♣ A Q 6 4

The bidding proceeded as follows:

South     West     North     East
1♣          Pass     2NT       Pass
4NT       All Pass

Seven makes against any lead, thanks to crucial 3-3 breaks in clubs and spades, but 6NT is the right contract. “I was trying to show I had a 1NT hand,” North said. South was bidding Blackwood. These things happen. Here’s one solution. When partner opens 1 ♣ or 1 ♦, you don’t have a four-card major and you see a NoTrump future, the responses to make are:

• 1NT: 6-10 high-card points
• 2NT: 11-a bad 12 HCP
• 3NT: a good 12-15 HCP
• 4NT: 16-18 HCP
• 5NT: 19-21 HCP
• 6NT: 22-24 HCP
• 7NT: 25+ HCP

Using this system, the bidding would proceed as follows:

South     West     North     East
1♣          Pass     4NT       Pass
6NT       All Pass

If you’re uncomfortable with this system, the bidding can still reach slam as follows:

South     West     North     East
1♣          Pass      1 ♦         Pass
2NT•      Pass      6NT      All Pass

• 18-19 HCP

It’s easier to bid other slam contracts. Suppose partner bids 2NT to show 20-21 HCP, your right-hand opponent passes and you hold:

♠Q 8 3
♥A K Q
♦K Q 7 6
♣ Q 6 3

What do you bid?

When this deal appeared on OK Bridge, virtually everyone jumped right to 7NT. When a partnership holds at least 37 HCP, grand slam should be automatic.