During a session of on-line bridge I bid and made four hearts on this hand. I thought that I would get a very average score for this result, but was surprised to find out that many pairs did not make ten tricks.
One of the best features of on-line bridge is that you can go back and review the results of all of the tables where the hand was played. You can also see the actual play of the hand. This hand was played sixteen times. Ten pairs reached four hearts. Five pairs made that contract. The other six tables played in a heart partial, making nine or ten tricks.
The line of play selected by declarer was the direct cause of the result. Those who drew trumps at the first opportunity could not make ten tricks. When diamonds were played first, in order to trump a diamond in the dummy, ten tricks were easy.
After winning the first trick, West shifted to a spade. The king won in dummy. I unblocked the queen from my hand. A diamond was played to the ten. West won the king and played another spade. The jack won in dummy and another diamond was played. East won the ace and led a heart. I won the king and trumped a small diamond with the jack of hearts.
A spade to the ace placed me back in the South hand to draw trumps and claim ten tricks.
How does one know that trump should not be played on a hand like this? Count your tricks before playing to trick one. You will score four heart tricks, three spades, and one club for a total of eight. You may score a diamond by force, but you will have to drive out the ace and king and find the jack as well. The only alternative source of tricks is the potential of trumping a diamond in the dummy. The defense is also aware of this and has made a good start by playing hearts. Had West held a second heart, this hand may not make against the defense presented, but that is not the case.
As declarer, force yourself to count your tricks before you play to trick one. The benefits will be huge. District Five of the American Contract Bridge League will sponsor the Rock and Roll Regional Bridge Tournament at the Holiday Inn, 6001 Rockside Road, Independence, from January 10 to 14.
A bracketed knock out team event and a stratified side game series will start each morning, except Sunday, at 9:00 a.m. Team and pair events for players at all levels will start at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. every day except Sunday. Bracketed team events will start at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday.
Special events for non-life master players will be held each day. The player with the best record in this series will receive special recognition.
For any other information, call (330)722-8214 or visit the unit's web site at http://www.whistclub.org
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Bernstein is
a free-lance writer in Solon. To reach Harvey Bernstein: hjb0416@yahoo.com