I would not recommend the bidding sequence and the final contract is very aggressive. That being said, place yourself in the South position and decide on a line of play. You should be able to count nine tricks. Where will you find the tenth?
West leads the king of diamonds. East plays the three and West shifts to the king of clubs. East plays the eight and West continues with a low club to East's ace. The nine of diamonds is next. South trumps. A small spade to the queen and a spade back to the ace and king extract all of the outstanding trumps.
The queen of hearts is covered by the king and won with the ace. North's last club is trumped in the South hand. Here is the four card end position:
South plays the nine of spades. West discards the jack of diamonds. The four of hearts is played from the dummy. East's cards are immaterial. The eight of spades is next and West has no answer. If he discards the king of diamonds, North will discard the eight of hearts. If West decides to discard the nine of hearts, North will discard the queen of diamonds. Either way, four spades, bid and made.
District 5 of the American Contract Bridge League held the Rock and Roll Regional Bridge Tournament in Independence on January 11 - 15. The following players were successful in their respective events on January 13. Other results appeared last week and more will be listed in future columns.
Two Session Stratified Pairs (78 pairs). Stratum A. 1. Ernie Retetagos, Pittsburgh, and Bernard Fudor, Murrysville, PA. James and Barbara Klein, Pittsburgh. Stratum B. 1. Gerri Owens, Silver Lake, and Betty Schnabel, Munroe Falls. 2. Marcella Retetagos and Sandra Spear, Pittsburgh. Stratum C. 1. Carol Bolen, Gibsonia, PA, and John Bernhard, Pittsburgh. 2. Maureen Depenbrok and Bonnie Pisching, Chardon.
Evening Stratified Swiss Teams (16 teams). Stratum A. 1. Robert Park, Gibsonia, PA, William Holt, Sewickley, PA, Robert Quinlan, Pittsburgh, and Jean Prior, Bethel Park, PA. 2. Stelian Hritcu, North Olmsted, Julian Heicklen, State College, PA, Janine Bibb and Peter Petruzzellis, Toronto. Stratum B. 1. Janet and Thomas Rice, Cleveland, with Linda and James Stahl, Chagrin Falls. 2. Dorothy Mehok, Sewickley, PA, Jack Charles, Pittsburgh, Margie Tiglio and Marlene McConnell, Allison Park, PA.
Morning Knock Out Teams (8 teams). 1. Robert Park, Gibsonia, PA, William Holt, Sewickley, PA, Robert Quinlan, Pittsburgh, and Constance Hoechstetter, Coraopolis, PA. 2. Gary Sikon, North Royalton, Bernard Fudor, Murrysville, PA, Marjorie Baldwin, Akron, and Frank Aquila, Fairlawn.
Afternoon Stratified Pairs (34 pairs). Strata A & B. 1. James Novak, Solon, and Frank Scali, North Ridgeville. 2. Richard La Ponza, Parma, and Marion Marshall, Cleveland. Stratum C. 1. Gayle Singer, Moreland Hills, and Vivien Sevin, Lyndhurst. 2. Mitzi Sands, Beachwood, and Harrison Fuerst, Cleveland.
Evening Stratified Pairs (24 pairs). Stratum A. 1. Nella Parsons, Sterling Heights, MI, and George Rutkowski, Birmingham, MI. 2. Jean Joseph, Cleveland, and Kermit Wolford, Aurora. Stratum B. 1. Kathleen Sevcik, Boardman, and Steven Wolotsky, Lakewood. 2. Roy Larson, Wadsworth, and Dennis Young, Massillion. Stratum C. 1. Larson and Young. 2. Nancy Schreck, Solon, and Joanne Stoddard, Sagamore Hills.
Afternoon Non Life Master Pairs (29 pairs). Stratum A. 1.
Norma and Merle Arlen, Scottsdale, AZ. 2. Henry and Mary Jane
Bohl, Pittsburgh. Stratum B. 1. Linda Beringer and Janet Mungo,
Akron. 2. Mary Lou Vermerris, Gates Mills, and John Hibshman,
Shaker Heights. Stratum C. 1. Laura and Raymond Palascak, Rocky
River. 2. Sumant Lall, Pittsburgh, and Jeannie McCormick,
Allison Park, PA.
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Bernstein is
a free-lance writer in Solon.
To reach Harvey Bernstein:
hjb0416@yahoo.com