Bidding to a minor suit slam.
Bridge Column for July 16, 2004, Harvey Bernstein
Special To The Plain Dealer
Both sides vulnerable.  South deals.
                              North
                              S: 3          
                              H: 3       
                              D: K J 7 5 3   
                              C: A Q 10 7 5 2 
            West                             East
            S: Q J 9 8 6                     S: K 7          
            H: 7 4 2                         H: K Q 19 9 8 5
            D: 9 8                           D: 10 6              
            C: J 6 4                         C: K 8 3       
                              South                         
                              S: A 10 5 4 2 
                              H: A J 6      
                              D: A Q 4 2   
                              C: 9        
          The Bidding:  
                  South    West    North    East                  
                   1S      Pass     2C      Pass
                   2NT     Pass     3D      Pass
                   6D      Pass     Pass    Pass
     Thanks to Fred Eberlin of Lyndhurst for this hand from a
single session "pairs" event at the recently completed All
American Regional Bridge Tournament.  Eberlin held the North
cards and his partner, Edia Shai of University Heights, sat
South.  
     When South opened the bidding, Eberlin had to decide how to
best show his values.  He decided that his holding was strong
enough to justify making what is known as a "reverse" bid.  He
started by resonding with two clubs.  Shai bid two no trump and
now Eberlin said three diamonds.  This is known as a "reverse"
because he bypassed the suit that he mentioned first to bid his
second suit.  With a weaker hand, he would have bid diamonds
first and followed up with clubs.
     Shai realized what Eberlin was trying to convey and bid the
diamond slam.  East led the king of hearts and Eberlin made
twelve tricks with ease.  This proved to be near top score (one
pair that was in six diamonds made an overtrick) with most pairs
playing three no trump.  

     District 5 of the American Contract Bridge League sponsored
the All American Regional Bridge Tournament from May 24 to 31 in
Independence.  The following players were successful in their
respective events on May 29.  Other results where listed in
previous columns, more will appear next week.
     Two Session Open Pairs (92 pairs).  Stratum A. 1. Patricia
and Richard Katz, Pittsburgh, PA. 2. Anita Torrence and Barth
Royer, Bexley.  Stratum B. 1. Bob Bartko, Aurora, and Wayne Ward,
Newbury.  2. S. Graham Kelly and Nada Kohtz, Hudson.  Stratum C.
1. Olive Deany Tabor, Shaker Heights, and B. Shakoor, Pepper
Pike.  2. Donald and Helen Brock, Cuyahoga Falls.
     Afternoon Side Game Series 1 (40 pairs).  Strata A. 1. Mina
Ronen, Akron, and Judith Sturman, Claveland.  2. Fred Eberlin,
Cleveland, and Chet Jain, Willoughby.  Strata B & C. 1. Nestor
Burkhart, Shaker Heights, and Daniel Sommer, Brecksville.  2.
Ronald Bakeman and Charles Wen, Strongsville.
     Afternoon Non Life Master Pairs (18 pairs).  Stratum A.  1.
Vivien Sevin, Lyndhurst, and Terry Goulder, Solon.  2. Joan
Pfeifer, Pittsburgh, PA, and Rita Gernand, Luthville Timon, MD.
Stratum B. 1. Pfeifer and Gernand.  2. Harry Keagler, Kirtland,
and Robert Kay, Cleveland.  Stratum C. 1. Keagler and Kay.  2.
Gayle and Gary Nelkin, Fairlawn.
     Evening Side Game Series 2 (27 Pairs).  Stratum A.  1.
Donald Rop, Chagrin Falls, and Edia Shai, University Heights.  2.
Bernard Heyman, Shaker Heights, and Lois Butler, Chagrin Falls. 
Stratum B.  1. Heyman and Butler.  2. Eugene Harvey, Lackawanna,
NY, and Joanne Kelley, Fredonia, NY.  Stratum C. 1. Harvey and
Kelley.  2. Joan Tibaldi, Cleveland, and Barbara Hermelin,
Wickliffe.
     Evening Swiss Teams (9 teams).  Stratum A. 1. Sally Ross,
Pickerington, Karma Zoss, Circleville, Nickie Leckrone and Norma
Schoenberger, Lancaster.  2. Robert Sulgrove, Spring Valley,
Richard Rudolph, Westerville, Linda McGarry, Stuart, FL, and Jim
Bachelder, Columbus.  Stratum B. 1. Ross, Zoss, Leckrone, and
Schoenberger.  2. Donald and Katy Moyer, Silver Lake, William and
Diane Syfer, Stow.  Stratum C. 1. The Moyers and the Syfers.  2.
Vivian Shanafelt, Medina, Linda Gracey, Twinsburg, Lia Staaf,
Rocky River, and Lesley Green, Lakewood. 
__________________________________________
Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon.