It pays to count the cards.
Bridge Column for February 3, 2007, Harvey Bernstein
Special To The Plain Dealer
Neither side vulnerable.  West deals.
                              North
                              S: 8 3 2            
                              H: A 9 8 6     
                              D: A 6 2       
                              C: A K 7   
            West                             East
            S: K Q J 10 6 5                  S: A 9          
            H: 4                             H: Q 7 5
            D: Q 10 7                        D: 9 8 4             
            C: 10 9 3                        C: Q 8 5 4 2   
                              South                         
                              S: 7 4      
                              H: K J 10 3 2 
                              D: K J 5 3   
                              C: J 6      
          The Bidding:  
                   West   North     East   South                  
                    2S     Dbl      Pass    4H  
                    Pass   Pass     Pass    
          Opening lead: KS
     After West makes a textbook weak two spade bid, North
doubles for take-out.  South is forced to bid and since three
hearts would be right with the same distribution and no points,
it would seem that four hearts is appropriate with this holding.
     West leads the king of spades.  East overtakes with the ace
and returns a spade.  West wins and continues with a third spade. 
Declarer trumps while East discards a small club.
     With finesse positions in both red suits, it seems likely
that one of them will succeed, fulfilling the contract.  There
is, however, a slightly better play available.  Return to the
North hand with the ace of hearts and then play the ace, king,
and a third club, trumping in hand with the ten.  If West can
over trump, he is endplayed.  If West follows to the third club,
return to hand with the ace of diamonds and take the heart
finesse.  Again, if West wins, he is endplayed.  
     As you can see, the heart finesse works and ten tricks
are easy.  It is important to "look ahead" and take into
consideration what options you have if the finesse fails.
     Learning to count every hand and making the best play 
possible is a big step to improving your game.
  
     District Five of the American Contract Bridge League held
the Rock and Roll Regional Bridge Tournament in Independence on
January 10 - 14.  The following players were successful in their
respective events on January 11.  Other results appeared last
week, more will be listed in future columns.
     First Bracketed Knockout Teams.  Bracket 1 (10 teams). 1.
Mary Chilcote and Hao Ge, Cleveland, Preston Carlisle,
Ogdensburg, NY, Ken Gee and Barry Harper, Regina, SK, Canada.  2.
William Holt, Sewickley, PA, Constance Hoechstetter, Corapolis,
PA, Robert Park, Gibsonia, PA, and Robert Quinlan, Pittsburgh. 
Bracket 2 (12 teams). 1. Eileen Gold, Cleveland, Joan Rogoff,
Beachwood, Brenda Goldberg, Shaker Heights, and Chet Jain,
Willoughby.  2. Kathy Pollock, Tonawanda, NY, Rick Benstock,
Buffalo, NY, Joanne Kelley, Fredonia, NY, and Judith Padfuf,
Amherst, NY.  Bracket 3 ( 10 teams). 1. Dorothy Mehok, Sewickley,
PA, Marlene McConnell, Allison Park, PA, Doris Hess, Beaver, PA,
and Janice Smith, Beaver Falls, PA.  2. Philip and Bunny Miller,
Monroeville, PA, with Mary Jo Johnson and Flo Tito, Latrobe, PA.
Bracket 4 (11 teams). 1. James Coleman, Cuyahoga Falls, Flo
Hinshaw, Ashland, John and Fran Holland, Fairlawn.  2. Pat
Denapoli, Peggy Kainz, Helen Johnston, and Bea Woodman, Windsor,
ON, Canada.   
     Two-session Stratified Open Pairs (40 pairs). Stratum A. 1.
Cathy Marsteller and Joseph Newton, Niles. 2. Albert Freeman,
Shaker Heights, and Geraldean Jones, Cleveland.  Stratum B. 1.
Marsteller and Newton.  2. Gary Sikon, North Royalton, and Julia
Allen, Willoughby.  Stratum C. 1. Peggy and Jerry Grogan, Dayton.
2. Terence Murray, Canfield, and Carol Beardmore, Youngstown.
     Two-session Stratified Swiss Teams (31 teams). Stratum A. 1.
Robert Sulgrove, Spring Valley, Richard Rudolph, Westerville,
George St. Pierre, Columbus, and Roy Baldwin, Dublin.  2. Phil
Becker, Beachwood, Kumar Bhatia, Pepper Pike, Don and Kathleen
Sulgrove, Twinsburg, and Kenneth and Laurie Kranyak, Bay Village.
Stratum B. 1. Nicholas Ogan, Moreland Hills, Victor Vertes,
Cleveland, Marlene Zinamon, Beachwood, and Chantal Whitney,
Shaker Heights. 2. Retha Lakins, Massillon, Judy Saccogna, Kent,
Susan Bussan and Judith Taylor, Cuyahoga Falls.   Stratum C. 1.
John Bernhard, Pittsburgh, Michael Fezar, Moon Township, PA,
Carol Bolen, Gibsonia, PA, and Hugo Churchill, Allison Park, PA.
2. Betty Nesbit and Judith Perman, Glenshaw, PA. with Larry
Gesoff and Sumant Lall, Pittsburgh.
     Afternoon Side Game (23 pairs).  1. Clare Obermeyer and Lynn
Gielser, Cleveland.  2. Donald and Helen Brock, Cuyahoga Falls.
     Evening Side Game (32 pairs). Stratum A. 1. Herbert Sachs
and S. Ruskin, Pittsburgh.  2. Henry Essig, Westlake, and Shafik
Ismail, Cleveland.  Stratum B. 1. Essig and Ismail.  2. Robert
Dykes, Lakewood, and Jim Breckel, Medina.  Stratum C. 1. Henry
and Mary Jane Bohl, Pittsburgh.  2. James and Linda Stahl,
Chagrin Falls.
     Afternoon 299er Pairs (14 pairs). Stratum A. 1. Wilton
Workman and Bonnie Aberth, Akron.  2. Kathy Kovacs, Westlake, and
John Schneider, Strongsville.  Stratum B. 1. Brina Segal and Gary
Marcus, Beaver Falls, PA.  2. Herman and Ann Muller, Chagrin
Falls.  Stratum C. 1. The Mullers. 2. Raymond Palascak, Fairview
Park and Laura Palascak, Rocky River.
     Evening 299er Pairs (8 pairs). Stratum A. 1. William and
Carol Jaras, Port St. Lucie, FL.  2. John Schneider,
Strongsville, and Elayne Rupert, Parma.  Stratum B. 1. Ken and
Mary Cornelius, Ann Arbor, MI.  2. Brina Segal and Gary Marcus,
Beaver Falls, PA.
______________________________________________________
Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon. 
To reach Harvey Bernstein:
hjb0416@yahoo.com