Finding the best defense.
Bridge Column for August 4, 2007, Harvey Bernstein
Special To The Plain Dealer
North-South vulnerable.  North deals.
                              North
                              S: 8 6 2            
                              H: A K Q       
                              D: K 8 3       
                              C: 9 6 5 3  
            West                             East
            S: K J                           S: A 9 5 3      
            H: 9 7 5 3                       H: 6 4        
            D: J 10 9 7 6 4                   D: A                 
            C: A                             C: K 10 8 7 4 2
                              South                         
                              S: Q 10 7 4
                              H: J 10 8 2    
                              D: Q 5 2     
                              C: Q J      
          The Bidding:  
                  North    East    South    West                  
                   1C      Pass     1H      Pass
                   2H      Pass     Pass    Pass
          Opening lead: AC
     Dr. Stanley Jaffe of Beachwood held the West cards at a
matchpoint duplicate event when this hand came up.  The auction
was unremarkable although North could have bid one no trump at
his second turn.  Jaffe led the ace of clubs.
     East played the two, intending that card to ask for a
diamond.  South played the queen.  Jaffe switched to the jack of
diamonds.  East won the ace and played the king of clubs.  Jaffe
played the six of diamonds.  The three of spades went to the jack
and a small diamond was returned.  East trumped with the four. 
Another small spade went to the king and again a diamond was
returned.  East trumped with the six.  The ace of spades was the
eigth trick for the defense.   
     The ten of clubs was trumped high and declarer was able to
take the last five tricks with high trumps.  In effect, the
defense made the two heart contract and received a score of plus
150 for a top score on the board.  
     Even low-level part-score contacts can be exciting.  Give
110% of your effort on each deal and you will find yourself
rewarded many times over.
     District 5 of the American Contract Bridge League held the
Grand National Team Finals in Meadville, PA, on May 5 and 6.
Congratulations to the following teams that were successful in
their respective events.
     Championship Flight. 1. Phillip Becker, Beachwood, Niel
Waletzky, Shaker Heights, Joel Wooldridge and Dan Gerstman,
Buffalo, NY. 2. Bernie Greenspan, Beachwood, Roger Tiktin,
Lakewood, Jerome Rolnick, Lyndhurst, and Frank Aquila, Fairlawn. 
     Flight A.  1. Jane Marshall, Arlene Port, Patricia Katz, and
Ronald Franck, Pittsburgh. 2. William Holt, Sewickley, PA, Jean
Prior, Bethel Park, PA, Constance Hoechstetter, Coraopolis, PA,
and Robert Quinlan, Pittsburgh. 
     Flight B. 1. Susan Stark, Cleveland, Bernard Heyman, Shaker
Heights, John Bacon, Lakewood,   Jim Overcasher, East Canton, and
Fred Schenker, Pittsburgh. 2. Charlotte Friedman, Lyndhurst,
Diane Wasserman, University Heights, Eva Lefton, Cleveland, and
Hope Ellis, Beachwood. 
     Flight C. 1. Roy Larson, Wadsworth, Jack Hickey, Canton, Jon
Wendelken, Akron, and Flo Hinshaw, Ashland.  
_______________________________________________________
Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon. 
To reach Harvey Bernstein:
hjb0416@yahoo.com