Plan the play at trick one.
Bridge Column for January 14, 2005, Harvey Bernstein
Special To The Plain Dealer
Both sides vulnerable.  South deals.
                              North
                              S: A 4 3            
                              H: A 7 4 2     
                              D: Q J 10 9 8  
                              C: 7       
            West                             East
            S: J 8 7                         S: Q 9 5 2 
            H: 9 6                           H: 8          
            D: A 7 6 2                       D: K 5 3            

            C: Q J 9 6                       C: K 10 4 3 2  
                              South                         
                              S: K 10 6
                              H: K Q J 10 5 3
                              D: 4         
                              C: A 8 5    
          The Bidding:  
                  South    West    North    East                 

                   1H      Pass     3H      Pass
                   4H      Pass     Pass    Pass
     This hand was dealt at a local duplicate game.  Declarer was
thrilled with his contract and also with the opening lead, the
nine of hearts.  He won the first trick in hand and then drew a
second round of trump.  At trick three he led a diamond to the
queen.  East won the king and returned a small club.
     Declarer won the ace and trumped a club.  The eight of
diamonds was trumped in hand and the last club was trumped in the
dummy.  The nine of diamonds was trumped in hand and a spade was
led to the ace in the dummy.  Another diamond was called for and
East showed out.  Declarer trumped this trick and conceded a
spade, making five.
     At the end of the game our declarer found out that +650,
while an attractive score, was only worth two and one half
matchpoints.  Six pairs had this score.  The other seven pairs
scored +680 and received a score of nine matchpoints.  That is a
big difference for one trick.  But this is a "one trick" game and
you have to realize that if you ever hope to be successful.
     Here is what should have happened.  After the opening lead,
declarer has a little conversation in his head.  "I can claim
eleven tricks right now, so what do I need to do to make more
than that?  Well, I could set up a long diamond trick for a spade
discard.  How should I play the diamonds?  If the ace and king
are split, one in the East hand and one in the West, I would like
West to win the first diamond, so it would be best to start
diamonds from the dummy."
     Having gone through this thought process, declarer wins
trick one with the ace of hearts and leads the queen of diamonds.
East will duck and West will win the ace and more than likely
continue with a heart.  There are now enough entries to set up a
diamond trick and get back to it in order to discard the spade
loser.  Making six.  
     Force yourself to do this before you play to the first
trick.  Watch how your game improves.

     Fairmount Temple, Beachwood, which is the location of the
regular Monday afternoon duplicate game of the Beachwood
Duplicate Bridge Club, will be closed on January 17 for
observance of the Martin Luther King holiday.  The game will be
held at the Lyndhurst Community Presbyterian Church, 5312
Mayfield Road, Lyndhurst, at 12:15 p.m.  You can call (216) 591-
9566 for any additional information.

_______________________________________________________
Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon. 
To reach Harvey Bernstein:
hjb19@adelphia.net