After a very normal auction, South counts his tricks before playing to trick one. He has two spades, three hearts, and four clubs - a total of nine. At this point, overtricks are the main concern of the matchpoint duplicate player. The most reasonable chance for additional tricks will be from the spade suit, however, to do so will require the loss of at least one spade trick.
If declarer has to lose a trick, he wants to lose it to West, who cannot attack the diamond suit. With that in mind, South calls for the ace of hearts and then leads a small spade. East follows low and South inserts the nine. West wins but can do no harm. He decides not to play diamonds but continues with the ten of hearts. Declarer wins in hand, cashes the ace of spades and goes to dummy with a high club. The king of spades shows that the suit is behaving and declarer winds up with four spades, three hearts and four clubs for a total of eleven tricks and a very good matchpoint result.
When you lose a trick to the defender who cannot make a killing switch, you have executed an avoidance play. You have to remember to think before you play to trick one so that you are ready for plays like this one.
District Five of the American Contract Bridge League held the All-American Regional Bridge Tournament in Independence on May 22 - 28. The following players were successful in their respective events on May 23. Other results were listed last week, more will appear in future columns.
Two Session Stratified Pairs (104 pairs). Stratum A. 1. Brian Ellis, Beachwood, and Roni Atkins, Pittsburgh. 2. Richard Early, Cuyahoga Falls, and John Toy, Buffalo, NY. Stratum B. 1. David Frohlich and John Gillette, Pittsburgh. 2. Robert Dykes, Lakewood, and Wayne Heritage, North Olmsted. Stratum C. 1. William Dickinson, Northfield, and William Alcorn, Chagrin Falls. 2. Charlene Collins, Willoughby, and Mary Anne Kriesen Mentor.
Afternoon Side Game (24 pairs). Stratum A. 1. Mort Pierce, Chagrin Falls, and Arthur Obrock, Shaker Heights. 2. Marylou Harmon, Chagrin Falls, and Iola Croner, Ambridge, PA. Stratum B. 1. Laura Ross, Solon, and Fleur Howard, Gates Mills. 2. Donald Southam, Brecksville, and Carl Winters, Cleveland. Stratum C. 1. Ross and Howard. 2. Lucille Race, Cleveland, and Helene Weiss, Beachwood.
Evening Side Game (30 pairs). Stratum A. 1. Arther Ehrler, Cleveland, and Ronald Franck, Pittsburgh. 2. Dolores Bloom, Warren, and Vernon De Jong, Sharon, PA. Stratum B. 1. Ehrler and Franck. 2. James and Sara Buford, Lorain. Stratum C. 1. The Bufords. 2.Carol Bolen, Gibsonia, PA, and Jack Charles, Pittsburgh.
Afternoon 299er Pairs (18 pairs). Stratum A. 1. Dorothy Rendlesham and Florence Long, Cleveland. 2. Bonnie Alberth and Sally Shaffer, Akron. Stratum B. 1. Alan Feinstein, Solon, and Arnold Galmitz, Bratenahl. 2. Cookis Marcus, Beachwood, and Florence Goodman, Pepper Pike. Stratum C. 1. Feinstein and Galmitz. 2. Cheryle Davis, Elyria, and Janet Joseph, Grafton.
Evening 299er Pairs (13 pairs). 1. Charleen Drotning, Mayfield Heights, and Mary McLeod, Chagrin Falls. 2. Albert and Elizabeth Koontz, Sagamore Hills.
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Bernstein is
a free-lance writer in Solon. To reach Harvey Bernstein: hjb0416@yahoo.com