Work to improve your defense.
Bridge Column for March 25, 2005, Harvey Bernstein
Special To The Plain Dealer
East-West vulnerable.  West deals.
                              North
                              S: 10 6             
                              H: A Q 3 2     
                              D: 3 2         
                              C: A J 10 8 7 
            West                             East
            S: 9 7 3 2                       S: A 8 5 4      
            H: J 10 6                        H: 9 7 5      
            D: Q 8 4                         D: A K 10 6          
            C: K 9 3                         C: 6 5         
                              South                         
                              S: K Q J 
                              H: K 8 4      
                              D: J 9 7 5   
                              C: Q 4 2    
          The Bidding:  
                   West   North     East   South                  
                   Pass    1C       Pass    1D  
                   Pass    1H       Pass    3NT 
                   Pass    Pass     Pass
     This hand was played at the Ohio Master's Sectional Bridge
Tournament in Solon on March 5.  With the king of clubs "on
side", it appears that South should make nine tricks, but some
declarer's managed as many as eleven.
     At the table that I observed, West opened the two of spades. 
In my opinion, this is an error.  When you lead your fourth best
card in a suit, you are implying that you really want to "go
after" tricks in that suit.  I contend that when you want to lead
the unbid suit, and you have four small cards in that suit, you
should lead your second best card, or in this case, the seven.  I
could even construct an argument for leading the nine with this
holding. 
     At the table, East won the ace and dutifully returned the
four of spades.  This is also an error.  What would it have cost
to have played the king of diamonds at trick two to see what
partner felt about that suit?  If West plays a low card to this
trick East can always revert to spades.  I think West will play
the encouraging eight of diamonds, and if East reads this
correctly, the defense will get four tricks before declarer can
get started.
     Trick one and two are so important to both the declarer and
the defenders.  Don't wait to start thinking when the hand is
half over.  Get your head into the game early on and watch your
scores improve.

     Unit 125 of the American Contract Bridge League hosted the
Ohio Master's Sectional Bridge Tournament in Solon on March 4 -
6.  Congratulations to the following players who were successful
in their events on March 6.  Other results appeared in previous
columns.
     Flight A Board-A-Match Teams (9 teams).  Stratum A1. 1.
Martin Baff, Beachwood, Roger Tiktin, Lakewood, Don and Kathleen
Sulgrove, Twinsburg.  Tied for 2/3. Kumar Bhatia, Pepper Pike,
James Zimmerman, Shaker Heights, Brian Ellis and Phillip Becker,
Beachwood, and Richard Early, Cuyahoga Falls, with Kenneth and
Laurie Kranyak, Bay Village, Gary Sikon, Lakewood, and Michael
Abramson, Akron. Stratum A2. 1. Elizabeth Dressler, Cleveland,
Dennis Bushman, Strongsville, Jan Miyake and Josh Levy, Oberlin. 
     Flight B Swiss Teams (9 teams).  1. Peter Miller, Shaker
Heights, Molly Fainer, University Heights, Wayne Ward, Newbury,
and Michael Ellis, Beachwood.  2. Alan Steggles, Ravenna, Monica
Early, Cuyahoga Falls, Ann Carpenter, Fairlawn, and Jerry May,
Akron.
     Flight C Swiss Teams (20 teams). 1. Janice Smith, Barberton,
Doris Mikstay, Canton, David Paul, Wooster, and Richard Huff,
Medina.  2. Alex McCrea, Shaker Heights, Dilip and Smita Maniar,
Mentor, and Subramania Krishnamurthi, Naperville, IL.
 
_______________________________________________________
Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon. 
To reach Harvey Bernstein:
hjb19@adelphia.net