Bridge Column for December 13, 1992 
Dealer: North
Vulnerable: None
                              NORTH
                              S: Q 9 8 7 3
                              H: 4 
                              D: K Q 9 8 7 5
                              C: 5          
            WEST                             EAST
            S: 10 6 2                        S: J 5   
            H: Q 10 6 2                      H: K J 3      
            D: 4 2                           D: 6 3               
            C: K Q 10 4                      C: J 9 8 6 3 2
                              SOUTH                         
                              S: A K 4  
                              H: A 9 8 7 5
                              D: A J 10     
                              C: A 7

                 NORTH   EAST    SOUTH    WEST                    
                   2D    Pass      3NT    Pass
                   4S    Pass      6NT    Pass 
                  Pass   Pass  

     The most fascinating thing about the game of bridge is that
every hand is different and every player has his or her own
viewpoint when it comes to bidding and playing any one of them. 
This hand is a prime example of that statement.  It was sent to
me by Lillian Siegel of Beachwood who is a regular tournament
participant and a very fine player.  Siegel sat South and was
playing with Dr. Harold Bilsky of Cleveland Heights.  They were
competing in the regular Tuesday afternoon game held at the
Beachwood Recreation Center and the scoring was matchpoint
duplicate.
     Bilsky started things off by bidding a weak two diamonds
promising between six and ten high card points and a decent six
card diamond suit.  Weak two bids are not usually recommended for
two-suited hands.  It is very difficult to convey the existence
of a second suit after opening with a preemptive bid.  Had Bilsky
not made this bid, however, there would be no story to tell. 
     Siegel was all set to open the bidding with two no trump,
but when her partner preempted she decided to just bid the no
trump game.  Bilsky now took the opportunity to show his hand by
bidding four spades.  Siegel reasoned that her partner must have
some strange six-four or six-five holding in diamonds and spades
and therefore made the value bid of six no trump.  
     Thirteen tricks were available no matter what was led and
that was the number of tricks scored up by all other pairs.  What
turned out to be most interesting was the comparison to other
results.  No one else in the room got to any slam at all!  Most
North players passed in first position and South opened two no
trump.  North now bid three hearts as a transfer to spades and
South obediently responded three spades.  With seven high card
points, North now bids three no trump and most pairs played at
that contract or four spades.