This hand was played during a session of duplicate bridge. The opening lead was the king of hearts. At first glance, it appears that declarer must lose two clubs and a diamond, making the four spade contract. There does not appear to be anything out of the ordinary here.
Keep in mind that duplicate bridge is anything but ordinary. Bridge is the vehicle that drives the game, but the scoring favors the player that can make something other than the ordinary. Here, one player played low from both hands to the opening lead. East played the three of hearts. With no compelling reason to change suits, West continued with the queen of hearts. Declarer called for the ace and discarded the two of diamonds from the South hand.
Trumps were drawn in two rounds. The top two diamonds were followed by a diamond that was trumped by South. With diamonds breaking 3-2, a spade was used to enter the dummy and the long diamond tricks provided a resting place for the two losing clubs in the South hand. Making six was a very good result.
This was not a difficult play. And what's the worse thing that can happen? West will switch to a club and the defense will take two club tricks. Declarer still wins a heart, two diamonds, and seven spades for ten tricks. In duplicate bridge, finding a free chance for an extra trick is like striking gold - keep your eyes open for the opportunity.
The Fall North American Bridge Championships were held in Orlando, Florida from November 18 to 28. Congratulations to the following local players who were successful in their respective events.
Sharon Fairchild of Rocky River was 5th is a side game on 11/19 and was a member of the team that finished 4th in Bracket 3 of the Compact Knock Out Teams on 11/22.
Brian Ellis of Beachwood was a member of the team that finished 1st in Bracket 2 of the Jayne Thomas Knock Out Teams on 11/20.
Laurie Kranyak of Bay Village was 9th in the Life Master Women's Pairs on 11/20. She was also a member of the team that was 4th in Bracket 1 of the Compact Knock Out Teams on 11/22 as well as a member of the team that finished 2nd in the Flight A Swiss Teams on 11/28.
Kathleen Sulgrove of Twinsburg was 38th in the Life Master Women's Pairs on 11/20. She was also a member of the team that finished 2nd in the Marsh May Sternberg Board-A-Match Teams on 11/22.
Jack Weingold and Joanne Antoniou of Shaker Heights were 8th in the Flight A Pairs on 11/22 and were on the team that finished 2nd in the Flight A Swiss Teams on 11/28.
James and Carolyn Sullivan of Richfield were 1st in Stratum B of the Evening Sode Game on 11/26.
Marshall Lewis of Cleveland Heights was a member of the team that was 2nd in the Flight A Swiss Teams on 11/21.
William and Carol Jaras of Brecksville were tied for 3rd in Bracket 14 of the Sunday-Monday Knock Out Teams on 11/22. They were also on a team with Constance Brogan of Strongsville and John Viola of North Ridgeville that finished 2nd in Bracket 12 of the Compact Knock Out Teams on 11/24.
Linda Gracey of Twinsburg and Lia Staaf of Rocky River were 3rd in Stratum C or the Afternoon Side Game and 6th in Stratum C of the Evening Side Game on 11/24. They were also 2nd in Stratum C of the Open Pairs on 11/25.
Nicholas Ogan of Moreland Hills and Alex Ogan of Cambridge,
MA were 4th in Stratum C of the Fast Pairs on 11/24 and 2nd in
Stratum B of the Daylight Open Pairs on 11/26.
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Bernstein is
a free-lance writer in Solon.