A matter of style.
Bridge Column for August 1, 2003, Harvey Bernstein
Neither side vulnerable.  South deals.
                              North
                              S: K Q 3 2          
                              H: A J 4 2     
                              D: Void        
                              C: A J 9 8 6
            West                             East
            S: A J 10 8 4                    S: 9 7 6 5      
            H: K 9 8                         H: Q 10 7 5 3 
            D: A 9 5 2                       D: J 10 3            
            C: K                             C: 4           
                              South                         
                              S: Void  
                              H: 6          
                              D: K Q 8 7 6 4
                              C: Q 10 7 5 3 2
          The Bidding:  
                  Table One
                  South    West    North    East                  
                   Pass     1S      2C       2S 
                    6C     Pass     Pass    Pass

                  Table Two
                  South    West    North    East                  
                    2D      2S      Pass     3S 
                   Pass    Pass     Pass
     Thanks to Mary Chilcote of Bratenahl for this hand from the
Senior Swiss Team event at the Miami, Fla. regional bridge
tournament which was held over the last week of April.  
     Chilcote sat in the South seat at Table One and decided to
pass at her first opportunity.  Even though her distribution was
6-6 in the minor suits, she only had seven high card points and
felt that she would be able to show her hand later in the
auction.  West opened the bidding with one spade and North, Zeke
Jabbour of Boca Raton, Fla. made a two club overcall.  East
raised spades and Chilcote decided to bid six clubs.  The play
was simple and thirteen tricks were easily made.
     At the other table, South decided to open two diamonds. 
West made a two spade overcall and North, with the best hand at
the table, was stuck.  The diamond void appeared to be a huge
liability.  East bid three spades and South was now afraid to
show his second suit.  Three spades was defeated one trick and
the Chilcote team picked up a big score on their way to first
place in the event.  
     The difference in results at the two tables is directly
related to the style of the player in the South seat.  Chilcote
knew that she would never be shut out, even if she passed in
first seat.  At her second turn, with some input from her
partner, finding a good spot was not difficult.  
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Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon.