Bridge Column for November 15, 1992 
Dealer: North
Vulnerable: None
                              NORTH
                              S: A K Q 6 4 3
                              H: A J 10 8 4 2
                              D: K          
                              C: Void       
            WEST                             EAST
            S: J 10 8 2                      S: 9 5   
            H: K 6 5 3                       H: Q 9 7      
            D: 8 3                           D: Q 10 7 4          
            C: 9 6 4                         C: J 10 5 2   
                              SOUTH                          
                              S: 7      
                              H: Void     
                              D: A J 9 6 5 2
                              C: A K Q 8 7 3

                 NORTH   EAST    SOUTH    WEST                    
                   1S    PASS      2D     PASS
                   3H    PASS      4C     PASS 
                   4S    PASS      5C     PASS
                  PASS   PASS

     
     This hand was reported by Janet Kohn of Shaker Heights who
observed it at a rubber bridge game at the Oakwood Country Club. 
It is interesting in many respects.  First, it must be the misfit
of all time.  North and South both have 6-6-1-0 distribution with
no matching long suits.  Second, both hands are powerhouses in
their own rights.  This makes for a bidding nightmare.  North-
South should be congratulated for reaching a game that could be
made.
     When five clubs was played, West made the opening lead of
the three of hearts and Declarer was able to make an overtrick by
ruffing one spade before playing four rounds of clubs, ruffing
the heart return and using the king of diamonds as an entry to
the good spades.  An opening lead of a diamond will take away the
outside entry to the spade suit and stop declarer from making the
overtrick.
     Four spades would be a superior contract and the bidding
would have to be a little different to reach that contract. 
After North opens one spade and South responds two diamonds,
North can safely bid two hearts.  In standard bidding, a two
level bid over a one level bid promises another bid, so there is
no need to jump to three hearts, thereby saving valuable bidding
space.  
     After two hearts, South can simply bid three clubs since a
new suit at the three level in this auction would be forcing. 
North, having no interest in any contract other than spades or
hearts, will now bid four hearts asking South to select the major
suit game of his choice.  South should take a simple preference
to North's first bid suit, and the auction will end at four
spades.  This contract is superior because it is a ten trick game
as opposed to an eleven trick game.  
     While "freak" hands of this nature cause many problems, they
are also a great deal of fun and add much to the pleasure of the
game.