A tough part score contract.
Bridge Column for July 8, 2001, By HARVEY BERNSTEIN
Both sides vulnerable.  North deals.
                              NORTH
                              S: A 7 6            
                              H: A 10 7 6    
                              D: Q 8 4 2     
                              C: 6 3     
            WEST                             EAST
            S: Q J 10 5                      S: Void         
            H: K J 4                         H: Q 9 8 3    
            D: J 9 7                         D: K 6 5 3           
            C: Q 5 4                         C: A J 9 8 7   
                              SOUTH                         
                              S: K 9 8 4 3 2 
                              H: 5 2        
                              D: A 10      
                              C: K 10 2   
          The Bidding://
                  NORTH    EAST    SOUTH    WEST                  
                   Pass    Pass      2S     Pass
                   Pass   Double    Pass     2NT
                    3S     Pass     Pass    Pass
     Thanks to Gene Benedict of Toledo for this hand from the
Flight A Swiss Team event at the recently completed All American
Regional Bridge Tournament in Independence.  Roger Tiktin of
Lakewood held the South cards and after two passes he decided to
open a "weak two bid".  The South hand is certainly not a
"textbook" weak two, but you have to have some leeway in third
seat, and Tiktin used it to his advantage.
     East, Marty Baff of Beachwood, reopened with a takeout
double.  Benedict sat West and his two no trump was natural,
showing spade control.  James Reeves of North Royalton held the
North cards.  He bid three spades, which ended the auction.
     Benedict led the four of hearts.  Tiktin called for the ace
from dummy and led the three of clubs towards his king.  Baff won
the ace of clubs and returned a heart to partner's jack.  The
king of hearts followed and Tiktin trumped in the closed hand.
     This was the critical point in the play of the hand.  Tiktin
led a small spade towards the dummy.  Had Benedict played the
five, Tiktin would have covered with the six, as a safety play
against the expected four-zero trump break.  Benedict, however,
played the ten of spades.
     Tiktin won the ace, led a club to his king and then trumped
his last club with the six of spades.  He now led the seven of
spades and let it ride around to Benedict's jack.  As it turned
out, this was a beautiful end play.  If Benedict led a spade he
would be giving up his second trump trick.  His alternative, a
diamond, was no better.  He tried the nine but Tiktin made the
correct play of the two from dummy.  Baff played low as well and
Tiktin won the ten.
     In all, the defense was only able to score a heart, a club,
and two spade tricks.  Tiktin's fine play brought in a very
difficult part score contract.
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Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon.