Overcoming errors.
Bridge Column for May 14, 2004, Harvey Bernstein
Special To The Plain Dealer
Both sides vulnerable.  North deals.
                              North
                              S: A                
                              H: 10 6 2      
                              D: A Q 10 6 5  
                              C: A K 8 2 
            West                             East
            S: J 6 5 4 3 2                   S: Q 9 7   
            H: K J 5                         H: Q 9 7 3    
            D: K 4                           D: 9 7 3             
            C: 10 4                          C: Q J 3       
                              South                         
                              S: K 10 8 
                              H: A 8 4      
                              D: J 8 2     
                              C: 9 7 6 5  
          The Bidding:  
                  North    East    South    West                  
                   1D      Pass     1H       1S 
                   2C       2S      3C       3S 
                   4H      Pass     Pass    Pass
     Even expert players make mistakes.  This hand came up during
a Danish National Team Championship last year.  We hope that
South responded one heart to his partner's opening bid because he
had a diamond mixed among his hearts.  These types of errors are
not uncommon, especially after many continuous days of
competition.   
     While three no trump, five clubs, and five diamonds were all
available contracts that would probably make, this partnership
wound up playing their three-three heart fit.  To declarer's
credit, he kept his cool and forged ahead.  
     The opening lead was the four of spades, won by the ace in
dummy.  A low heart went to the eight and the jack.  West played
a second spade.  Declarer trumped and then continued "drawing
trumps" by playing a heart to the ace and then his last heart to
West's king, pitching a club from the dummy.
     West still had a chance to defeat this contract by shifting
to a club, but instead played a third spade.  South discarded
another low club from the dummy and won the king in the closed
hand.  He finessed against the diamond king and when that worked,
ran the diamonds.  East could trump in whenever he wanted but he
had only clubs left to put declarer back in the dummy for the
rest of the tricks.  
     The declarer knew he was in a poor contract but he didn't
give up.  This is excellent advice for anyone attempting to
improve their skill level.  When you are playing or defending
even low level contracts, force yourself to apply the same effort
that you would if the contract was a grand slam.  This is the
discipline that we all need in order to be successful.  Defending
against a part score contract and finding our that you got a top
board because you defended better than the rest of the field can
be very rewarding to your confidence and your game.

     Congratulations to Jack Weingold of Cleveland who is the

area's newest Gold Life Master.  This title is awarded to players
who have accumulated at least 2,500 master points.  That is more
than eight times the number of points that are required to become
a life master.
_______________________________________________________
Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon.