The game was party bridge and the opening lead was the king of spades. Declarer trumped, played one round of hearts, and when both the ace and the deuce fell, was able to claim the doubled slam.
Still, there are many lessons available from this hand. The opening bid and the pre-emptive overcall are very normal. North should probably bid four no trump, asking for aces. If he takes this approach, East has many choices. I think that a five spade bid is correct.
Most partnership's play a convention known as 'DOPI' when the opponents interfere over an ace-asking bid. That means that responder doubles with no aces and passes with one ace.
Does that solve the problem? Not really. South has one ace and a working void. North would not have asked for aces unless he had a slam in mind, and South holds a much better hand than North could hope for. I vote for six hearts.
West and North should both pass and East has to decide what to do. If six hearts is going to make he should bid six spades. If six hearts is going down, he should double.
Experience will teach you that there is not much to be made from doubling slams that are bid in spite of your holding more than one ace. It is very likely that there is a void (or two) lurking about. In this case, East knows it. West has shown a probable seven card spade suit and East has five more. That leaves only one for the opponents.
I think it is right to bid six spades, but sacrificing for down three or four, doubled, is not a good habit to get into. It may be better to leave six hearts alone and hope that declarer misplays the hand.
Don't allow yourself to get "caught up" in an auction. Take the time to determine what you know for sure and then make the best decision you can. Your game will be better for this approach.
Unit 125 of the American Contract Bridge League held the Ohio Masters Sectional Bridge Tournament in Solon on March 5 - 7. The following players were successful in their respective events on March 6. Other results appeared last week, more will be listed next week.
Two Session Flight A Pairs (41 pairs). Stratum A1. 1. Hjalmar Beijl and Elizabeth Dressler, Cleveland. 2. Julia Allen, Willoughby, and Jeffrey Myers, Willowick. Stratum A2. 1. Allen and Myers. 2. Paul Neidlinger and Nancy Michael, Youngstown.
A.M. Stratified B/C Pairs (52 pairs). Stratum B. 1. Sheilah Rosenberg, Beachwood, and Virginia Young, Hudson. 2. Ruth Romito, Twinsburg, and Carol Childress, Cleveland. Stratum C. 1. Madeleine and Arthur Obrock, Shaker Heights. 2. Chet Jain, Willoughby, and Michele Allen, Waite Hill.
A.M. Stratified 299er Pairs (28 pairs). Stratum A. 1. Gayle Singer, Moreland Hills, and Vivien Sevin, Lyndhurst. 2. James Coleman, Cuyahoga Falls, and Matt Van Sickle, Akron. Stratum B. 1. Singer and Sevin. 2. Mary and John Fant, Chesterland.
P.M. Flight B Pairs (46 pairs). 1. Lars Johnson, Wooster, and Glen Fox, Ashland. 2/3 Dora Rump, Cuyahoga Falls, and James Pivarski Jr, Munroe Falls, with Tommie Ruehr, Cleveland, and Lynn Nosse, Grafton.
P.M. Stratified 299er Pairs (18 pairs). Stratum A. 1. Vivian
Shanafelt, Medina, and Lesley Green, Mentor. 2. Elayne Rupert,
Parma, and Betty Williams, North Royalton. Stratum B. 1. Ildiko
Baxter, Cleveland Heights, and Marilyn Doman, Chagrin Falls. 2.
Terry Newman, Huron, and Joy Maughan, Sandusky.
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Bernstein is
a free-lance writer in Solon.