This hand came up during an online session of bridge. This is a great way to practice your bidding and play. West led the five of hearts and I played the six from the dummy. East won the queen and returned the four. I played low and West won the ace. His seven went to my king in the dummy, East discarding a club.
I played a club to my king and then played the queen. Both defenders followed suit. A spade to the queen was the entry for the ace of clubs. West discarded a small spade. I played three more rounds of spades. East followed to the the first two spade tricks and then discarded a diamond and a club. West discarded the two of diamonds on the last spade.
At this point I knew that West has two diamonds and the jack of hearts while East held three diamonds. I played the ten of hearts and West was able to win and cash the ace of diamonds, conceeding the last trick to my king. I really didn't do anything special here. I knew that West would have to keep the jack of hearts so I cashed all of my black suit tricks and watched the discards. The end-play developed on it's own. It could have gone wrong, especially if East held the ace of diamonds and a long club, but if that were the case, playing a diamond to the jack early on would not work either.
The more practice you get counting the cards, the better you will be at it.
The All-American Regional Bridge Tournament was held in Independence from May 24 to 30. Congratulations to the following players who were successful in their respective events on May 29. Other results appeared previously and more will be listed in future columns.
Morning Swiss Teams (19 teams). Stratum A. 1. Robert Park, Gibsonia, PA, William Holt, Sewickley, PA, Robert Quinlan, Pittsburgh, Jean Prior, Bethel Park, PA, and Constance Hoechstetter, Coraopolis, PA. 2. Richard Mydloski, Taylor, MI, Mark Leonard, Ypsilanti, MI, Robert Cappelli, Bloomfield, MI, and Barry Lippitt, Southfield, MI. Stratum B. 1. Ann Carpenter, Fairlawn, Monica Early, Cuyahoga Falls, Alan Steggles, Ravenna, and Virginia Bissig, Bear Lake, MI. 2. Lynn Nosse, Grafton, Barbara Zink, Olmsted Falls, Paul Pschesang, Milford, and Michael Purcell, Burlington, KY. Stratum C. 1. Joseph Kalk, Beachwood, Chuck Eastin, Cleveland, Pat and Edward Bacher, Powell. 2. Jacqueline McNamara, Newark, Suman Agarwal, Hilliard, Kanti Chavada and Nancy Moore, Columbus.
Afternoon side game (37 pairs) Stratum A. 1. Sophie Novak, Solon, and Shirley Burke, Olmsted Falls. 2. Robert Werner, Chagrin Falls, and Isabel Worthington, Aurora. Stratum B. 1. Werner and Worthington. 2. Tucker Marston, Chagrin Falls, and Russell Stambaugh, Gates Mills.
Evening side game (20 pairs). Stratum A. 1. Melvin Lubart, Hummelstown, PA, and Jim McKeown, State College, PA. 2. Conner and Barry Boyd, Wheeling, WV. Stratum B. 1. The Boyds. 2. Sandra and Aslam Siddiqui, Carmel, IN. Stratum C. 1. The Siddiquis. 2. Shirley Meyers and Claire Morris, Pittsburgh.
Afternoon non life master pairs (10 pairs). 1. Murray and Marilyn Edelman, Beachwood. 2. Georgia Dixon, Cleveland, and Frances King, Shaker Heights.
Afternoon Side Series Overall Winners (214 players) Tied for 1/2. Erna Pavick, North Royalton, with Jeno Triboldt, Vermilion.
Evening Side Series overall winner (181 players). 1. Sukumar Roy, Shaker Heights. Tied for 2/3. Louis Joseph, Pittsburgh, and Gail Hastings, Verona, PA.
Flight A Pairs (54 pairs). Stratum A1. 1. Niel Waletzky, Shaker Heights, and Phillip Becker, Beachwood. 2. Christine Urbanek, Tonawanda, NY, and Jay Costello, East Amherst, NY. Stratum A2. 1. Craig Biddle, Eastlake, and Bernard Fudor, Murrysville, PA. 2. Robert Quinlan, Pittsburgh, and Constance Hoechstetter, Coraopolis, PA.
Stratified B/C/D Pairs (34 pairs) Stratum B. 1. Donald and
Rhoda Ruben, Columbus. 2. Joseph Harbert, Willoughby, and
Richard Van Bergen, Solon. Stratum C. 1. The Rubens. 2. Patricia
Petruzzi and Rouann Garling, Independence. Stratum D. 1. Tamara
and A. Moulton, Hilliard. 2. Barbara Wallman, Massillon, and
Marilyn Bolender, Wadsworth.
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Bernstein is
a free-lance writer in Solon.
To reach Harvey Bernstein:
hjb19@adelphia.net