Playing duplicate bridge.
Bridge Column for August 26, 2001, By HARVEY BERNSTEIN
North-South vulnerable.  North deals.
                              NORTH
                              S: A J 10 4         
                              H: A 10 9 5    
                              D: A J 5 4     
                              C: J            
            WEST                             EAST
            S: K 9                           S: Q 8 6 5 3 2  
            H: K Q 7 3                       H: 8     
            D: 8 3                           D: K 10 7 2          
            C: K 7 5 3 2                     C: Q 4         
                              SOUTH                         
                              S: 7                
                              H: J 6 4 2    
                              D: Q 9 6     
                              C: A 10 9 8 6 
          The Bidding://
                  NORTH    EAST    SOUTH    WEST                  
                   1D      Pass     1H      Pass
                   2H      Pass     Pass    Pass
     When you are playing matchpoint duplicate bridge, each hand
has the same value as every other hand.  Consequently, a part
score contract is theoretically worth as much as a grand slam. 
This hand is a good example.
     West led the three of clubs against two hearts.  The jack
was played from dummy and East covered with the queen.  Declarer
won the ace and took a moment to review the hand.  The first
order of business was the trump suit.  A small heart was led to
the three, nine, and eight.  The four of diamonds was led toward
the queen.  East won the king.  East did not have an attractive
lead at this point and decided to lead another diamond.  Declarer
won this trick with the queen.  
     The ten of clubs was placed on the table.  West played the
two.  A spade was discarded from dummy and East played the four. 
The nine of clubs brought the king from West.  The five of hearts
was called for and East played the two of spades.  The ace of
spades was cashed and another spade was led from dummy.  Declarer
trumped with the four of hearts.
     The eight of clubs allowed declarer to discard the last
spade from dummy.  A diamond was led toward the ace.  West
trumped for the second defensive trick, and with the king-queen
of hearts, was able to take one more.  
     On a combined 22 high card points, declarer was able to take
ten tricks in hearts for +170 which was worth 10 out of 12
possible matchpoints.  A few hands later declarer and his partner
bid a small slam which made and resulted in a matchpoint score of
6.  It seemed that all of the other pairs bid and made the slam
as well.  
     You will find that the pairs who consistently finish "in the
money" take the same care and concentration with the part scores
as they do with the slam hands.
_______________________________________________________
Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon.