Sometimes passing is a good strategy.
Bridge Column for August 12, 2005, Harvey Bernstein
Special To The Plain Dealer
East-West vulnerable.  East deals.
                              North
                              S: Q J 9 8 5 4 3    
                              H: Void        
                              D: J 10 9 8    
                              C: 6 3     
            West                             East
            S: K 7 6 2                       S: 10       
            H: Void                          H: A K J 9    
            D: 7 6 2                         D: 5 4 3             
            C: K J 10 9 7 4                  C: A Q 8 5 2   
                              South                         
                              S: A    
                              H: Q 10 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
                              D: A K Q     
                              C: Void     
          The Bidding:  
                   East   South     West   North                  
                    1C     4H       Pass    Pass
                   Pass
     Thanks to Phil Becker of Beachwood for this interesting
hand.  It was dealt at a rubber bridge game.  Clark and Mary
Knierman of Cleveland Heights held the North-South cards.  Tom
and Marilyn Matia of Solon sat East and West.  
     East (Tom Matia) make a very normal opening bid of one club. 
His hand was the only semi-normal hand at the table.  South
(Clark Knierman) decided that he was missing too many high hearts
to worry about a slam and just pre-empted the bidding with four
hearts.
     West thought about bidding five clubs but the vulnerability
was wrong and her partner really did not have to have a real club
suit.  When it got back to East he passed for two reasons: 1. It
did not appear that he was going to beat this contract more than
one trick, so there was little to be gained from a double.  2. He
was pretty certain that he could defeat four hearts.  What if
partner pulled the double by bidding five clubs?  That contract
would be defeated two tricks for minus 500.  Worse, if North bids
four spades he will make - and he could make an overtrick.
     The opening lead was the jack of clubs which was trumped by
South.  With no way to ever get to the dummy he was forced to
lead hearts out of his hand and go down one trick.  So today's
tip is simple.  When you have got them right where you want them,
don't double and give them with a chance to escape.    

     On August 31 the Cleveland Whist Club (Unit 125 of the
American Contract Bridge League) will host a seminar on Swiss
Team tactics at St. Michael's Woodside, 5035 Mill Road, Broadview
Heights.  The seminar will cover bidding, play of the hand,
scoring and team tactics as they differ from matchpoint duplicate
tactics.  The program starts at 7:00 p.m. followed by a session
of three team matches, ending with a question and answer period. 
     The Whist Club is also accepting registration of teams for
this seasons Vichill League competition.  The league is set up so
that your team plays against other teams with similiar
masterpoint holdings.  The league meets once a month, beginning
on September 14 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Michael's Woodside.  The
deadline for entries is September 1.  
     For additional information call (330) 722-8214.

     The Beachwood Duplicate Bridge Club will hold two qualifying
sessions for the North American Open Pair competition.  These
games will be held on August 22 at 7:15 p.m. and August 27 at
11:30 a.m.  Both games will be held at the Lyndhurst Community
Presbyterian Church, 5312 Mayfield Road, Lyndhurst. Call (216)
591-9566 for any additional information.

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