Bridge Column for December 10, 2004, Harvey Bernstein
Pavlicek's win Life Master Pairs.
Special To The Plain Dealer
Both sides vulnerable.  East deals.
                              North
                              S: K J              
                              H: A 10 7 5 3  
                              D: Q 8 4 3     
                              C: 6 4     
            West                             East
            S: Q 6 4 2                       S: 9 8 5        
            H: 9 6 2                         H: Q J 8      
            D: Void                          D: K 10 7 5 2        
            C: A J 9 8 5 2                   C: Q 7         
                              South                         
                              S: A 10 7 3
                              H: K 4        
                              D: A J 9 6   
                              C: K 10 3   
          The Bidding:  
                   East   South     West   North                  
                   Pass    1NT      Pass    2D  
                   Pass    2H       Pass    3NT  
                   Pass    Pass     Pass

     The Bobby Nail Life Master Pairs was contested at the Fall
North American Bridge Championships in Orlando, Florida last
month.  The event was won, for the first time, by a father-son
combination:  Richard Pavlicek of Fort Lauderdale, FL and his
son, Rich Pavlicek, Jr. of Santa Clara, CA. 
     Today's hand was played by Pavlicek Junior in the first of
two final sessions and was reported in the Daily Bulletin on
November 23.
     West led the two of clubs.  Declarer won East's queen with
his king.  A spade to the jack provided an entry to the dummy. 
The queen of diamonds was called for and East covered with the
king.  Declarer won the ace while West discarded a low heart.    
     A spade to the king placed the lead back in the dummy and
the eight of diamonds was led back towards the closed hand.  East
covered with the ten.  Declarer won the jack and West discarded
the five of clubs.  The king of hearts was cashed and a heart was
played to the ace, with both defenders following suit.  A small
diamond was played through East again for the marked finesse. 
West was forced to discard two more clubs on the two diamond
tricks.
     In the four card ending, Pavlicek Junior played a club. 
West was able to take his two remaining club tricks but then was
forced to lead away from his queen of spades.  Making five for
+660 was a tie for a top score on this hand.  

     The Cleveland Whist Club, Unit 125 of the American Contract
Bridge League, is sponsoring a mentoring program to provide
support for players who are getting started in competitive
bridge.  Interested players who apply to the unit will be paired
with Life Masters who have agreed to take on a Mentor
relationship.  It is anticipated that these pairs will play as
partners at least once a month for at least six months.  The
Mentor will try to allocate extra time before and after each
session to go over hands and/or situations which might be
helpful.  The Mentee will be responsible for the entry fee for
both partners.
     Currently, 40 non-life masters have applied and 29 life
masters have agreed to take on mentoring responsibilities. 
Persons interested in joining the program should call (216)
321-8076.  Life Masters willing to act as Mentors are especially
needed.

     The annual Cleveland Whist Club Holiday Party Open Pairs
will be held this year on Wednesday, December 22 at St. Michaels
Woodside, 6026 E. Mill Road, Broadview Heights.  The party starts
at 6:30 p.m. and the bridge game starts at 7:15 p.m.   Other
information and partnership requests can be made by calling (440)
248-3983.
   
_______________________________________________________
Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon.