Harvey Bernstein's Plain Dealer Bridge Column

Thanks to Paul Facinelli of Avon Lake for this hand from a team match. Facinelli held the East cards. Bernie Greenspan of Beachwood sat West. Arthur Ehrler of Cleveland opened the bidding with one club. Greenspan made a very light overcall of one spade. Ernest Larsen of Broadview Heights held the North cards. Larsen decided not to make a negative double. Instead, he raised clubs with his eight point hand.

Ehrler bid two no trump and Larsen raised this to game. An argument could be made to support an auction leading to a final contract of four hearts or a heart partial. At team competition, it is not important to be in the best scoring contract, but it is important to make the contract you are in.

Greenspan led the seven of spades and Ehrler could count only eight tricks. There are plays that could promote a ninth trick, but with the spade suit wide open, the defense would be able to score the setting trick before Ehrler could regain the lead.

Ehrler decided to put off making any decision on the red suits and to just ran the suit he had no losers in, clubs. Here is what the hand looked like when he was ready to cash the fourth club:

On the third club Greenspan discarded a small diamond. The queen of clubs created a real problem. If Greenspan discarded a spade, Ehrler could give him a heart trick and all he would be able to cash would be three spade tricks, for the defensive book. If he discarded another diamond, declarer could lead the queen, pinning the jack. If he threw a small heart, the ace and king would clear the suit and declarer would make an overtrick.

The diamond position appeared to be the most difficult for the declarer to work out so Greenspan discarded another small diamond. Ehrler called for the queen of diamonds. Facinelli covered with the king, but when the jack fell the ten became the ninth trick.

In the replay, the opponents stopped in a heart partial, making four. While Facinelli's team won the match, Ehrler's play on this hand was excellent.

The Cleveland Whist Club (Unit 125 of the American Contract Bridge League) is sponsoring a free seminar for future life masters on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. This event will be held St. Michael's Woodside, 5035 E. Mill Road, Broadview Heights. The topic will be Improving Your Defense.

The regular open pairs duplicate bridge game will start at 7:15 p.m. A separate event for future life masters will start at the conclusion of the presentation. For additional information call (330) 722-8214.
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Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon. To reach Harvey Bernstein: hjb0416@yahoo.com

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