Count your tricks.
Bridge Column for November 25, 2005, Harvey Bernstein
Special To The Plain Dealer
Neither side vulnerable.  West deals.
                              North
                              S: Q J 10           
                              H: 4 2       
                              D: A K 6 3 2   
                              C: A 7 3   
            West                             East
            S: 3 2                           S: 8 5          
            H: K J 10                        H: A Q 9 7 3  
            D: Q J 10 9 8 7 5                D: Void              
            C: 8                             C: K Q J 9 6 5  
                              South                         
                              S: A K 9 7 6 4
                              H: 8 6 5      
                              D: 4         
                              C: 10 4 2   
          The Bidding:  
                   West   North     East   South                  
                    3D     Pass     Pass    3S  
                   Pass    4S       Pass    Pass
                   Pass
     Thanks to Eugene Gordon of Pepper Pike for this fine example
of the reason declarer should count his winners and losers before
playing to the first trick.  West led the queen of diamonds. 
Declarer called for the ace from dummy.  East trumped and an ice
cold contract went down one.
     Had declarer taken a moment to count his tricks he would
have come up with six spades, two diamonds, a club and a heart
trumped with a spade in the dummy.  On the other hand, he has to
lose two hearts and two clubs, unless he can throw one club away
on a diamond winner.  He knows from the bidding that West should
have seven diamonds, which means that East is void.  At trick one
declarer must call for a small diamond from the dummy.  West
should trump anyway and play the king of clubs.  
     Declarer must win the ace and play the queen and jack of
spades, pulling the outstanding trumps.  The ace and king of
diamonds provide a resting place for two losing clubs from the
South hand.  At that point declarer can concede two hearts and
trump the last heart with the last spade in dummy, making ten
tricks.  
     It's true that spades must break two-two for this line to
succeed, but since that is the only path to ten tricks, you must
play for that distribution.
  
     Unit 125 of the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) held
the Buckeye State Sectional Bridge Tournament in Solon on
November 4 - 6.  The following players were successful in their
respective events on November 5.  Other results appeared last
week, more will be listed next week.
     Two session open pairs (30 pairs).  Stratum A1. 1. Paul
Facinelli, Avon Lake, and Bernie Greenspan, Beachwood.  2. 
Jerome Rolnick, Lyndhurst, and Frank Aquila, Fairlawn.  Stratum
A2. 1. Robert Dykes, Lakewood, and James Breckel, Medina.  2.
Steven Grzegorzewski, Meadville, PA, and William Lea Jr.,
Reynoldsburg.  
     Morning Flight B Pairs (38 pairs).  1. Herbert and Janice
Scibbe, Brecksville.  2. David Donald, Vineyard Haven, MA, and
Barbara Grzegorzewski, Meadville, PA.
     Morning Flight C Pairs (35 pairs).  1. Philip Macfarlane,
Parma, and Angela Strainic, Mentor.  2. Doug Henderson, Rocky
River, and Vivian Shanafelt, Medina.
     Morning 299er Pairs (22 pairs).  Stratum A.  1. William and
Carol Cashbaugh, Chagrin Falls.  2. Dennis Young, Massilon, and
Roy Larson, Wadsworth.   Stratum B. 1. Yount and Larson.  2.
Sylvia Spector, Beachwood, and Faye Bernstein, Cleveland. 
Stratum C. 1. Young and Larson.  2.  Barbara Tuber, Beachwood,
and Cathy Weber, Chagrin Falls. 
     Afternoon Flight B Pairs (26 pairs).  1. Richard Trogdon,
Sterling, and Robert Wood, Wadsworth.  2. Chantal Whitney, Shaker
Heights, and Wayne Ward, Newbury.  
     Afternoon Flight C Pairs (20 pairs).  1. Betty Hollister,
Gates Mills, and Jean Sulzberger, Aurora.  2. Charles and Barbara
Bisesi, Berea. 
     Afternoon 299er Pairs (11 pairs).  1/2. Roy Larson,
Wadsworth, and Dennis Young, Massilon, with John and Nancy
Schneider, Strongsville.

     District 5 of the ACBL is holding a Sectional Tournament at
Clubs (STaC) during the week of November 28 through December 4. 
This is an opportunity for players to earn silver master points
while playing at their own bridge clubs.  Ask your director for
the dates that your club is participating in this event. 
_______________________________________________________
Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon. 
To reach Harvey Bernstein:
hjb0416@yahoo.com