BY the time this column appears a small four-pair local contingent will be returning from playing in the Barbados Open. This is, from all accounts, an enjoyable and competitive event which continues to attract Bermuda players each year. I will bring you news of any notable successes in next week’s column.

On the local scene, this Monday sees the Lederer Memorial Trophy Game which will be scored at IMPs as practice for the Bridge Club Teams which takes place on Friday, October 27 and Monday, October 30.

Interspersed between these two sessions are the North American Pairs District final (Flight B, two sessions on Saturday, October 28, Flights A & C, two sessions on Sunday, October 29).

There is a sign-up sheet posted at the club. Five tables are needed, so please sign up if you intend to play.

Today’s hand is from the excellent Larry Cohen, of Boca Raton, Florida, who writes excellent bridge material and has a great CD set — Play Bridge with Larry Cohen<$>.

Here he highlights the columnist’s dilemma in that the reader is always ‘warned’ of a problem around the corner, simply because the hand is in a column! At the table, of course, no alarm bells sound!

The following deal is from the round robin of the 2000 Olympiad in Maastricht. It illustrates the flaw with so-called ‘problem-hands’. Without the ‘alarm bell’ to warn you, you might go wrong (as did many world-class players who faced this problem without knowing it was a ‘problem-and’.)

With both vulnerable, your partner opens one club in second seat and your RHO overcalls one heart. What do you do as South with . . .?

Dealer West.

Both Vulnerable.

<$f"ZapfDingbats">|0xab|Q 5

[heart]Q J 9 8

[diamond]K J 5 2

[club]10 8 3

Let’s say you bid one no trump and everyone passes. The ten of diamonds is led and this is what you see:

[spade]A K J 10

[heart]10 5

[diamond]6 4

[club]Q J 9 7 4

[spade]Q 5

[heart]Q J 9 8

[diamond]K J 5 2

[club]10 8 3

RHO wins the diamond ace and returns the diamond queen. Any thoughts?

This is nothing more than a hold-up lesson. If you duck the queen of diamonds you can’t be defeated. If you win trick two with your diamond king you can no longer make your contract. This was the full deal.North<$>

[spade]A K J 10

[heart]10 5

[diamond]6 4

[club]Q J 9 7 4

West East

[spade]9 7 6 4 [spade]8 3 2

[heart]A 3 [heart]K 7 6 4 2

[diamond]10 9 8 7 3 [diamond]A Q

[club]K 2 [club]A 6 5

South

[spade]Q 5

[heart]Q J 9 8

[diamond]K J 5 2

[club]10 8 3If you win trick two (as did many Maastricht masters), you would take four spades and two diamonds for sure. You’d have to set up a club or heart trick. No matter which suit you played next, West would win and clear diamonds. The defence would get their ace-kings in hearts/clubs and THREE diamond tricks.

By ducking trick two you guarantee your contract. If East happens to have more diamonds, then the suit is 4-3 and you will lose only two diamond tricks. If East shifts to clubs or hearts, that sets up your seventh trick. If east shifts to spades you can play on clubs to easily make your contract. It’s easy once you are warned!!

LATEST RESULTS

Bermuda Bridge Club

Wednesday morning, October 4, N/S: <$>1. Wendy Gray-Richard Gray, 2. Eileen Sharpe-Diana Diel, 3. Louise Rodger-Nea Willits. E/W: 1. Vera Petty-Sheena Rayner, 2. Greta Marshall-Elizabeth McKee, 3. John Hoskins-Jean Johnson.

Wednesday evening, N/S: <$>1. Sally Godet-Scott Godet, 2. John Evans-Judith Evans, 3. Stan Turner-Mabs Turner. E/W: 1. Ann Proctor-Anelise Scheland, 2. Michael Pupko-Sharon Pupko, 3. Alex Moir-Dorothy Moir.

Monday afternoon, N/S: 1. Joan Sims-Julia Beach, 2. Aida Bostelmann-Gwen Christensen, 3. Joyana Steinberg-Allan Botchman. E/W: 1. Vera Petty-John Burville, 2. Julia Lunn-Cathy Kinsella, 3. Ken Hardcastle-Gladys Hardcastle.

Wednesday morning, N/S: <$>1. Elizabeth McKee-Diana Diel; 2. Margaret Way-Vera Petty, 3. Patricia Hayward-Greta Marshall. E/W: 1. Jacqueline Swan-Marilyn Simmons, 2. Charles Gambrill-Michael Bickley, 3. Alice Palmer-Dorry Lusher.

Wednesday evening, N/S<$>: 1. Heather Woolf-Anelise Scheland, 2. Trish Moody-Penny Cooke, 3. June Stevens-Kim Booth. E/W: 1. Michael Pupko-Sharon Pupko, 2. Joan Ross-Ron Ross, 3 (jt.) Jon Turner-Debra Randall and Wilene White-Don Airey.

Friday, N/S: 1. John Burville-Magda Farag, 2. David Sykes-Sally Sykes, 3. Charles Hall-David Cordon. E/W: 1. David Pereira-Sven Pride, 2. Vera Petty-Roman Smolski, 3. Stephen Ball-John Hoskins.