The game is exciting at lunch.
Bridge Column for March 22, 2002, Harvey Bernstein
Both sides vulnerable.  West deals.
                              North
                              S: 10 9 2           
                              H: K 9 8 5 2   
                              D: 7 5         
                              C: A Q 6   
            West                             East
            S: J 5 3                         S: A K 7 4      
            H: Void                          H: J 10       
            D: A K 10 8 6 4 2                D: Q J 9 3           
            C: 7 5 4                         C: J 10 9      
                              South                         
                              S: Q 8 6
                              H: A Q 7 6 4 3
                              D: Void      
                              C: K 8 3 2  
          The Bidding:  
                   West   North     East   South                  
                    2D     Pass      3D     3H  
                   Pass    Pass      4D     Pass
                   Pass    4H        5D    Double
                   Pass    5H      Double   Pass
                   Pass    Pass
     Lunch time bridge can be "wild and wooly" at times.  First
of all, we only have an hour, so there is not a lot of time
involved in shuffling.  Second, even though we keep score as
though it were a three penny game, no money is really involved. 
I am amazed at how adamant the players can get about "keeping the
scoring accurate" when it is just a friendly game.
     This hand came up right after we all agreed that it was
going to be the last hand of the day (always important to know). 
Both sides were vulnerable with 60 points "on" towards game.
     The opening two diamond bid was "weak".  Normally, one would
have a six card suit, no void, and less than three card support
for any major suit.  This was not one of those times.  East bid
three diamonds in a vain attempt to keep South out of the
auction.  But South also knew it was the "last hand".
     When East bid five diamonds, South doubled to tell North
that enough was enough.  North, refusing to give in, bid five
hearts.  East's double was pure frustration.
     The opening diamond lead was trumped in the closed hand. 
After the outstanding hearts were pulled, declarer played on
clubs and made eleven tricks.  Interestingly enough, the North-
South combined holding was only twenty high card points, and yet
they were able to take eleven tricks.  Don't be afraid to bid a
little more when it appears that there are distributional values.
     When lunch time was over, both sides had won a rubber and
everyone left happy, looking forward to the next game.  Ask any
of us what we had for lunch and you are more likely to hear about
a small slam in spades than roast beef.
_______________________________________________________
Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon.