I watched this hand fall apart and felt that it would be worth examining so that others could avoid the mistakes that were made. North opens the bidding with one heart. South makes a jump-shift to three diamonds. This was the first error. This hand doesn't need to jump. A simple one spade bid (or two diamonds if that is more comfortable) is all that is necesary.
North raised diamonds and South cue-bid spades. North thinks that the hand is in slam range and makes a "false" cue bid of five clubs. This is the second error. East exposes this by doubling, which asks for a club lead if West becomes the opening leader. South should pass and let North do what he feels is best, but he was "caught up in the bidding" and jumped to the diamond slam.
I would like to be in six diamonds here, but it should be declared by the North hand to protect the king of clubs from coming under attack. After one heart - one spade, North would bid two diamonds and South can make any forcing bid. Eventually, South will ask for aces. When North shows only one ace, South can stop in a cold six diamonds. If South responds two diamonds after the opening bid, North will raise diamonds and after South bids his spades, North should bid three no trump, which will end the auction. If South decides to bid on, it is likely that six diamonds will be played from the wrong side of the table.
With West on lead, six diamonds, by South, should be defeated by a club lead. West, for reasons that will never be known, made the first mistake for his side by leading the two of spades. Declarer was able to draw trump and discard two clubs from the dummy, making six!
Competitive bridge is a game of errors. The pair that makes the fewest or least costly mistakes will usually win. Keep that in mind as you work to improve your game.
District 5 of the American Contract Bridge League sponsored the Rock and Roll Regional Bridge Tournament from January 14 to 18 in Independence. The following players were successful in their respective events on January 14. More results will be listed in future columns.
Two Session Open Pairs (56 pairs). Stratum A. 1. Marc Rabinowitz, Hudson, and Bernard Fudor, Murrysville, PA. 2. Stan Dub, Shaker Heights, and Jack Shapiro, Beachwood. Stratum B. 1. Elizabeth Dressler, Cleveland, and David Kirbawy, Akron. 2. Gwen Lane, Kent, and Betty Schnabel, Munroe Falls. Stratum C. 1. Edwin Glickman and Jing Han, Snowmass, CO. 2. Marc Scacco and Marion Ward, Cleveland.
Afternoon Continuous Pairs (21 pairs). Stratum A. 1. Barbara Sobel, Willooughby, and Dee Weisberg, Cleveland. 2. June Sanders, Parma Heights, and Irene Harpst, Cleveland. Stratum B. 1. Sanders and Harpst. 2. Ruth Romito, Twinsburg, and Sheila Fox, Cleveland. Stratum C. 1. Gene McKimm, Cleveland, and Gloria Southam, Brecksville. 2. Carol Childress, Cleveland, and Deany Tabor, Shaker Heights.
Evening Continuous Pairs (36 pairs). Strata A & B. 1. Charles Lyon, Akron, and Tom Martin, Hudson. 2. Peter Miller, Shaker Heights, and Bonnie Goodman, Pepper Pike. Stratum C. 1. Rose Marie Cassmer, Macedonia, and Jean Warzinski, Bedford. 2. Xenia Culiner, Akron, and Marilyn Bolender, Wadsworth.
Afternoon Non Life Master Pairs (16 pairs). Strata A & B. 1. Janet Rice and Chantel Whitney, Cleveland. 2. Janet Mungo and Linda Beringer, Akron. Stratum C. 1. Mungo and Berlinger. 2. Lynne Rudolph and Wendy Feldman, Pepper Pike.
Evening Non Life Master Pairs (14 pairs). Stratum A. Janet
and Thomas Rice, Cleveland. 2. Doug Henderson, Cleveland, and
Lia Staaf, Rocky River. Stratum B. 1. The Rices. 2/3. Marilyn
and Murray Edelman, Beachwood, tied with Jo Chorpening and Naomi
Cook, Brecksville.
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Bernstein is
a free-lance writer in Solon.