Find the eleventh trick.
Bridge Column for April 14, 2007, Harvey Bernstein
Special To The Plain Dealer
Both sides vulnerable.  East deals.
                              North
                              S: J 3              
                              H: A 9 6 5 2   
                              D: J 7 5 4     
                              C: A 4     
            West                             East
            S: A K 7                         S: Q 9 8 6 5 4 2
            H: Q J 10 3                      H: 8 7        
            D: A 10 8 2                      D: Q 9 3             
            C: 7 6                           C: 2           
                              South                         
                              S: 10   
                              H: K 4        
                              D: K 6       
                              C: K Q J 10 9 8 5 3
          The Bidding:  
                   East   South     West   North                  
                   Pass    1C       Dbl     1H  
                    4S     5C       Dbl     Pass
                   Pass    Pass
          Opening lead: KS
     Thanks to John Majors of New York City for this interesting
hand.  Majors held the South cards and found himself doubled in a
contract that called for him to win eleven tricks.  The first
trick was lost to the king of spades.  West followed with the ace
of spades.  Majors trumped in hand and had to decide how to play
this hand.  
     He was able to count eight club tricks and two hearts for a
total of ten.  If the outstanding hearts broke three-three he
would actually be able to score an overtrick.  The bidding would
tend to indicate that this distribution was less than probable.
     With the West hand more than likely to hold the majority of
the outstanding high cards, a squeeze was a more attractive
alternative.  Majors ran seven club tricks.  This was the end 
position when the last club was led:
                              North
                              S: Void             
                              H: A 9 6 5     
                              D: J           
                              C: Void    
            West                             East
            S: Void                          S: Void         
            H: Q J 10                        H: 8 7        
            D: A 10                          D: Q 9 3             
            C: Void                          C: Void        
                              South                         
                              S: Void   
                              H: K 4        
                              D: K 6       
                              C: 3
     The three of clubs was played and West had an impossible
choice.  He had to retain three hearts to keep dummies hearts
from scoring the last four tricks.  He discarded the ten of
diamonds.  Majors played the six of diamonds and West won the
ace.  The heart return came around to the king.  The diamond king
was cashed and the ace of hearts took the last trick.  Very well
done!    
 
     Unit 125 of the American Contract Bridge League held the
Ohio Masters Sectional Bridge Tournament in Solon on March 23 
- 25.  The following players were successful in their respective
events on March 23.  Additional results will be listed in
future columns.
     Afternoon Flight A Pairs (25 pairs).  Stratum A1. 1. Elbert
Hargesheimer III, Hamburg, NY and Christy Kellogg, Buffalo, NY.
2.  Roger Tiktin, Lakewood, and James Reeve, North Royalton. 
Stratum A2. Susan Bedall, Fairlawn, and Rebekah Clocker,
Wadsworth.  2.  Virginia Young and Gladys Martin, Hudson.
     Afternoon Stratified B/C Pairs (39 pairs).  Stratum B. 1.
Henry Essig, Westlake, and Philip MacFarlane, Parma. 2. Richard
Burgess, Chesterland, and Kermit Wolford, Aurora. Stratum C. 1.
James and Sara Buford, Lorain. 2. Barbara and Lawrence Marracino,
Canton.
     Afternoon 299er Pairs (10 pairs). Stratum A. 1. Mary Kay
Covington, Beachwood, and Helen Burns, Moreland Hills.  2. Thomas
Herrick and Robert Werner, Chagrin Falls. Stratum B. 1. Covington
and Burns. 2. Laura and Raymond Palascak, Rocky River.        
     Evening Scholarship Pairs (57 pairs). Stratum A. 1. Sukumar
Roy, Shaker Heights, and Chris Kleis, Lyndhurst. 2. James Novak,
Solon, and Frank Scali, North Ridgeville. Stratum B. 1.  Novak
and Scali. 2. Michael Stahr and Jayne Fleming, Stow.  Stratum C. 
1. William and Carol Cashbaugh, Chagrin Falls. 2. John Viola,
North Ridgeville, and Pamela Jones, Shaker Heights.
_______________________________________________________
Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon. 
To reach Harvey Bernstein:
hjb0416@yahoo.com