This hand is an excellent example of how good "vision" can help a bridge player. West led the king of diamonds against the spade slam. Declarer won this trick with the ace and played the ace of spades, revealing the horrible trump split. How should he continue?
If the diamonds were 7-1, as suggested by the bidding, there was a chance. The jack of hearts was followed by a heart to the ace. When both opponents followed to the third heart lead, declarer discarded a diamond from his hand. A spade from the table to the ten won the next trick. Three more rounds of spades put East on lead with his trump winner. Unfortunately for East, he held nothing but clubs and was forced to lead away from his king, giving declarer his slam.
Remember, at trick one declarer knew the distribution of two suits, spades and diamonds. After three rounds of hearts he knew the layout of the entire hand. His vision was supplemented by his ability to count. Nicely done.
District 5 of the American Contract Bridge League sponsored the All American Regional Bridge Tournament from May 24 to 31 in Independence. The following players were successful in their respective events on May 31. Other results where listed in previous columns.
Handicapped Knock Out Teams. Bracket 1 (9 teams). 1. Robert Cappelli and Barry Lippitt, Southfield, MI, Mark Leonard, Ypsilanti, MI, and Rick Kaye, Bingham Farms, MI. 2. Stephen Landen, Rochester Hills, MI, Larry Mori, Clearwater, FL, Edward White, Grand Blanc, MI, Dan Gerstman, Buffalo, NY, and Rhonda Monro, Beverly Hills, MI. Bracket 2 (9 teams). 1. Thomas Henderson and Nirmala Somani, Pittsburgh, PA, Robert Park, Gibsonia, PA, and Richard Chase, Chicago, IL. 2. Nathaniel Reid and Barbara Boswell, Cincinnati, Jacqueline Merkel, Lexington, KY, and Daniel Dopps, Mansfield. Bracket 3 (16 teams). 1. Diane Pliner, Watertown, MA, Diane Wasserman, University Heights, Hope Ellis, Beachwood, Evie Braman, South Euclid. 2. Betty Hitchcock, Mentor,Lille Mortensen, Beachwood, Betty Hollister, Gates Mills, and Jean Sulzberger, Aurora. Bracket 4 (14 teams). 1. Edward and Kay Westmeyer with Lanny and Mary Ann Laritz, Holland. 2. Jayne Fleming, Helen Lloyd, Michael Stahr, Akron , and Irene Nicodemus, Tallmadge.
Side Game Series 1 Overall Results (240 players). 1. Edia Shai, University Heights. 2. Fred Eberlin, Cleveland. 3. Mina Ronen, Akron.
Side Game Series 2 Overall Results (216 players). 1. Kerry Davidson, North Olmsted. 2. Donald Rop, Chagrin Falls. 3. Albert Freeman, Cleveland.
Flight A Swiss Teams (29 teams). Stratum A1. 1. Kenneth and Laurie Kranyak and Virginia Moody, Bay Village, with Linda McGarry, Stuart, FL. 2. Mary Paulone and Gail Carns, Export, PA, Asim Ulke, Monroeville, PA, and Frank Cymerman, Pittsburgh, PA. Stratum A2. 1. Robert Cappelli and Barry Lippitt, Southfield, MI, Mark Leonard, Ypsilanti, MI, and Rick Kaye, Bingham Farms, MI. 2. Dan Roseberry, Dover, Frances Prus, Pittsburgh, PA, Bob Middleton, Seven Fields, PA, and Jim Overcasher, East Canton.
Stratified B/C/D Swiss Teams (37 teams). Stratum B. 1.
Frances Mulkins, North Ridgeville, Linda Gracey, Twinsburg,
Lucille Ratliff and Thomas Balke, Akron. 2. James Gullo, Silver
Creek, NY, Joanne Kelley, Fredonia, NY, Eugene Harvey,
Lackawanna, NY, and Donna Steffan, East Amherst, NY. Stratum C.
1. Darlene Mannheimer, Carnegie, PA, Sandra Harris, South Park,
PA, John Bernhard and Catherine Thompson, Pittsburgh. 2.
Mariellen White, Solon, Sharon Bushman, Strongsville, Jeannette
Jenson and Patricia Petruzzi, Independence. Stratum D. 1.
Gordon Berry, Chagrin Falls, J. Lawniczak, Novelty, Tucker
Marston and Russell Stambaugh, Gates Mills. 2. Brenda Goldberg,
Shaker Heights, Lawrence and Carol Wise, and Patti Perlmuter,
Chagrin Falls.
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Bernstein is
a free-lance writer in Solon.