Bridge Column for November 22, 1992 Dealer: West Vulnerable: None NORTH S: K 7 3 2 H: K Q 10 5 2 D: 10 2 C: 10 5 WEST EAST S: A 6 4 S: 10 9 5 H: 9 7 H: 8 6 3 D: A Q 8 4 D: 6 3 C: A 7 6 2 C: Q J 9 8 3 SOUTH S: Q J 8 H: A J 4 D: K J 9 7 5 C: K 4 WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH 1D 1H PASS 3NT PASS PASS PASS The American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) sponsors a special competition each year for players with less than 50 master points. Local events are held around the country during the months of August and September and the pair in each district having the best percentage score is invited to play in the North American 49er Finals at the Fall North American Bridge Championships now being contended in Orlando, Florida. Competition started on November 20th and the tournament continues through November 29th. The District 5 representatives this year are Zhutao Cheng and Xubo Zhang who are both from Bejing, China. They are international students at Case Western Reserve University studying Computer Science. It is interesting to note that bridge was not a legal activity in China until the early 1980's, and Cheng and Zhang have only been playing for a total of four years. They played very well at Sophie Novak's Bedford Bridge Club on September 20th and scored an astounding 76.7%. This is the equivalent of having a 239 score on a 156 average. Zhang, sitting North, made a non-vulnerable overcall of one heart after West opened the bidding. Cheng, in the South seat, correctly reasoned that West had the concentration of the outstanding high cards and decided to try for a top score by blasting into three no trump instead of investigating the possibility of a game in hearts. West led the four of diamonds which South won with the seven. The queen of spades was led and West won the ace. When west continued with the ace of diamonds and a diamond, Zhang was able to score two overtricks by way of three spades, five hearts, and three diamonds. Had West stopped to consider that South must be well prepared for a diamond lead he may have selected the two of clubs which would have resulted in a three trick set. Quite a difference based solely on the opening lead. Here is another hand that illustrates the chances that this pair is willing to take: Dealer: East Vulnerable: N/S NORTH S: J H: 7 2 D: A Q 8 5 2 C: K 9 7 6 2 WEST EAST S: Q 7 5 2 S: A 10 8 6 3 H: Q 5 3 H: K 10 9 6 4 D: 9 4 D: J 10 3 C: 10 8 5 4 C: V O I D SOUTH S: K 9 4 H: A J 8 D: K 7 6 C: A Q J 3 EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH PASS 1C(1) PASS 2D(2) PASS 2NT PASS 3C PASS 3NT PASS 4C(3) PASS 6NT PASS PASS PASS (1) Precision Club, 16 or more high card points. (2) 8 or more high card points, 5 or more diamonds. (3) At least 5 clubs. Once Zhang determined that his partner had at least ten minor suit cards with at least eight points, he jumped into six no trump. Once again the pressure is on the opening leader. The bidding makes it fairly obvious that the lead must be either a heart or a spade, but which is right? West decided to lead the two of spades and the slam was quickly scored up when the diamond suit behaved. Yes, both of these hands could have resulted in terrible scores and no trip to Orlando, but they didn't. Duplicate bridge offers players the opportunity to take wild and crazy chances with very minimal risk. Learning when to take those chances and when to take advantage of others who have done something risky is what makes for tournament success.