Playing for overtricks.  
Bridge Column for March 31, 2007, Harvey Bernstein
Special To The Plain Dealer
Both sides vulnerable.  South deals.
                              North
                              S: 9 7 4            
                              H: A J 10 6 2  
                              D: J 5 4       
                              C: K 5     
            West                             East
            S: 10 8 5 2                      S: A Q 6 3      
            H: 8 7                           H: 9 4        
            D: K 9                           D: 10 8 7 3 2        
            C: J 9 7 4 3                     C: 8 6         
                              South                         
                              S: K J  
                              H: K Q 5 3    
                              D: A Q 6     
                              C: A Q 10 2 
          The Bidding:  
                  South    West    North    East                  
                   2NT     Pass     3D      Pass
                   4H      Pass     Pass    Pass
          Opening lead: 7C
     The majority of bridge hands can be bid to a reasonable
contract using virtually any bidding system.  Matchpoints are won
and lost in the defense and play of these very normal contracts.
     West would have done better to lead a heart against the
bidding shown.  It is clear that the offense holds the vast
majority of the points in this hand.  A trump lead is not likely
to give anything away.  The actual lead of the seven of clubs
gave declarer a good chance to play for overtricks.
     The opening lead came around to the ten.  Trumps were drawn
in two rounds, ending in the dummy.  After cashing the king of
clubs, declarer called for the jack of diamonds.  East played low
and declarer played the ace.  The ace and queen of clubs allowed
declarer to discard both of the remaining diamonds from the North
hand.  The six of diamonds was trumped and a spade was led toward
the king.  East played the ace and declarer was able to claim
twelve tricks.  This was a tie for top score on the board.
     The opening lead was a big help.  Declarer's decision to
test diamonds before cashing his winning clubs was the key to a
good matchpoint result.  Had he cashed the clubs first, he would
not have known whether is was right to discard spades or
diamonds.  When East did not cover the jack of diamonds, declarer
decided that West had the king of diamonds and made the right
play.
    The Spring North American Bridge Championships were held in
St. Louis, MO from March 8 to March 18.  Congratulations to all
of the local area players who were successful in their respective
events.  Additional results will appear next week.
     March 8
     Don and Kathleen Sulgrove of Twinsburg were 21st in the 
North American Flight A Pairs 
     March 9
     James and Linda Stahl of Chagrin Falls were members of the
team that finished in a tie for third place in Bracket 9 of the
Casino Queen Bracketed Knock Out Teams.
     March 10
     Karl Zaman of Strongsville and Mike Spooner of Glen Allen VA
finished fourth in Stratum A2 of the Flight A Pairs.  Brian Ellis
of Beachwood and Roni Atkins of Pittsburgh were second in Stratum
B of the afternoon side game. PA  Susan Hall of Cleveland and
Stephanie James of Chagrin Falls were fifth in Stratum B of the
299er pairs.  The Stahls were members of the teams that finished
first in Bracket 4 of the Morning Consolation Knock Out Teams and
also tied for sixth place in the Stratified Swiss Teams.  
     Sharon Fairchild of Rocky River was a member on the team
that was first in Bracket 4 or the Consolation Compact Knock Out
Teams.  Frank Scali of North Ridgeville was a member on the team
that finished in second place in Bracket 7 of the same event. 
     March 11
     Peter Grover of Aurora was a member on the team that was
third in Stratum A1 of the Flight A Swiss Teams.  Philip
MacFarlane of Parma was a member of the team that tied for fourth
place in the Board-A-Match Teams and was also on the team that
was first in the Midnight Knock Out Teams.  The Stahls were
fourth in Stratum B of the Evening Side Game.     
_______________________________________________________
Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon. 
To reach Harvey Bernstein:
hjb0416@yahoo.com