One of the "rules" I tend to follow closely is the one that says that you should not stretch to take action when the bidder in front of you bids your suit. In todays hand I held the West cards and heard South open the bidding with one diamond. With an ace-less thirteen count I passed. If the bidding got around to my partner and she could balance, I would re-evaluate my holding.
As it turned out, the final contract was one diamond. I led the jack of hearts, partner contributing the two. Declarer won the ace and led the seven of diamonds. I played the ten and tried the king of clubs. Partner signaled with the ten and I continued with the nine of clubs. The ace won this trick and a small club came back to my queen.
I got off lead with the ten of hearts which went to declarer's queen. The eight of diamonds went around to partners ace. She led her last club. Declarer trumped and I trumped higher. I pulled her last trump and once again got off lead with a heart. Declarer tried the spade finesse and when that failed she wound up down three for -300.
My tip for the day is to consider passing when you hold the opening bidder's suit.
Unit 125 of the American Contract Bridge League hosted the Ohio Master's Sectional Bridge Tournament in Solon on March 4 - 6. Congratulations to the following players who were successful in their events on March 4. Additional winners will be listed in future columns.
Afternoon Open Pair (70 pairs). Stratum A. 1. Sally Veauthier, Columbiana, and Vernon De Jong, Sharon, PA. 2. Phillip Becker, Beachwood, and Niel Waletzky, Shaker Heights. Stratum B. 1. David Norris, Rocky River, and Gary Montain, Westlake. 2. Russell Kalbrunner, Olmsted Falls, and Robert Leibold, Brunswick. Stratum C. 1. Kalbrunner and Leibold. 2. Glen Fox and Flo Hinshaw, Ashland.
Afternoon 299er Pairs (20 pairs). Strata A & B. 1. Dana Jones, Brecksville, and Bea Bissler, Seven Hills. 2. Barbara Cunliffe, Bentleyville, and Stephanie, James, Chagrin Falls. Stratum C. 1. Jones and Bissler. Tied for 2/3. Nancy Schreck, Solon, and Joanne Stoddard, Sagamore Hills, with Laura Ross, Solon, and Maryanne Nowak, Aurora.
Evening Open Pairs (63 pairs). Stratum A. 1. Don and Kathleen Sulgrove, Twinsburg. 2. Richard Burgess, Chesterland, and Sharon Fairchild, Rocky River. Stratum B. 1. Betsy and Jim Wilson, Akron. 2. Richard La Ponza and Philip Macfarlane, Parma. Stratum C. 1. Michael Stahr and Jayne Fleming, Akron. 2. Duane Seelinger, Mentor on the Lake, and James Novak, Solon.
Evening 299er Pairs (10 pairs). Stratum A. 1. Joanne and Robert Lane, Beachwood. 2. Judy Saccogna and Nancy Moore, Kent. Stratum B. 1. Saccogna and Moore. 2. Nancy Schreck, Solon, and Joanne Stoddard, Sagamore Hills.
The regular Monday evening session (March 14) of the
Beachwood Duplicate Bridge Club that meets at the Lyndhurst
Community Presbyterian Church, 5312 Mayfield Road, Lyndhurst,
has been cancelled. Games will resume at 7:15 p.m. on the following
Monday (March 21). Call (216)-591-9566 for any additional information.
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Bernstein is
a free-lance writer in Solon.
To reach Harvey Bernstein:
hjb19@adelphia.net