Harvey Bernstein's Plain Dealer Bridge Column

Thanks to Dr. Karl Zaman of Strongsville for this hand from the final session of the NABC Open Pairs II which was played on March 17th at the Spring North American Bridge Championships which were held from March 10th to the 19th in Cincinnati.

The NABC Open Pairs is a 4 session event. 260 pairs played two sessions on the first day and then the field was cut in half for the finals. Zaman and his partner, Dennis Bushman of Strongsville, made the cut and found themselves up against players that, for the most part, they had only read about.

This hand came up against Stephen Landen of Rochester Hills, MI, and Pratap Rajadhyaksha of Powell, OH. As it turned out, this was the pair that ultimately won this national event.

In retrospect, the auction should have stopped at three diamonds, making three or four. Of course, there would have been no story to tell. Zaman held good controls in the heart suit. If partner could fill the diamond suit, nine tricks would be a good possibility after a heart opening lead and continuation. His decision to bid three no trump, while aggressive, was understandable.

Landen, in the West seat, would have done well to pass. Any club lead will allow the defense to take the first six tricks and score 200 points. His penalty double chased Zaman to a spot that he at least had a chance at. Landen doubled once again. His partner had opened the bidding, and he had what appeared to be two quick tricks.

The opening lead was the king of clubs, which held. He followed with the ace of clubs, trumped in the closed hand. Zaman drew the outstanding diamonds in three rounds and then drove out the ace of hearts. A club was returned and trumped. The remaining hearts were cashed leaving only the spade suit to deal with.

Zaman had lost the king of clubs and the ace of hearts. If he could play the spade suit in such a way as to lose only one trick, the doubled contract would be made for a great score. West had already shown the ace and king of clubs, so East had to have the king of spades to support his opening bid. East started with six hearts, one diamond, and at least three clubs. So he could not have more than three spades and may hold less.

At the table, under the pressure of playing in the finals of a national event against some of the best players in the world, Zaman led a small spade towards the queen. West played the jack of spades and Zaman covered with the queen, losing to the king. The ten of spades in the West hand became the setting trick.

After the game, with time to think about the position, he realized that he should have ducked the first spade trick. The key was that he knew that East held the king and that the queen would surely lose. Would you have made the right play?
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