| Grand World Series of Hearts
The Grand World Series of Hearts was held in Cleveland, OH, during the weekend of Sept. 16-18. A small field of 20 players participated for a Prize fund of $1000. "Live" Hearts Tournaments drew very large fields (more than 100 players) during the 70s and 80s. Although the online version of Hearts continues to attract a very loyal following, fewer and fewer players are willing to travel for live events. Perhaps this will change in time. Partnership games such as Spades, or Euchre, seem to be all the rage these days! Grand Prix will always be loyal to Hearts, one of the classic card games, and will continue to include Hearts as part of its annual World Series event.
Here are the Final standings for the 2005 Tournament:
1st Place - Kevin K.
2nd Place - Basil A.
3rd Place - Tom S.
4th Place - Pierre St. D.
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A few words about the pass are in order. This was the fourth hand of the game. Keeper or hold hands are not part of live Grand Prix Hearts events. The South player had scored only two points in the previous three hands and was comfortably ahead. With his five card heart suit, including the A-K-Q-J, South was certainly justified in thinking about the Moon. He passed the deuce of diamonds along with the ten and two of clubs to West. Yes folks, the ten of clubs! (Why not the two bottom diamonds?) Meanwhile, West passed the Ace of spades, eight of hearts, and ten of diamonds to North. After all, he still had a natural heart "stopper" (ten fifth), and was able to send a "stopper" (heart) to his opponent on the right. North had passed his dry four of hearts and the Jack and seven of diamonds to East. And East unloaded the nine and eight of clubs, as well as the Queen of diamonds to South. Thus, the above hands were in place. West had a bad club suit to worry about; North had a pretty decent hand with some serious spades "drivers"; East was looking pretty good with a reasonably protected spade Queen, and safe hearts; South had a solid shot at a Moon, if everything "broke" normally.
West's deuce of clubs fetched the seven, a conspicuous four spot from East, and a very careful eight from South. The diamonds were probed with the three, and West climbed with the nine, as North won his ten, and East let go of the seven. A spade lead was a logical choice for North and this trick was won by West's Jack (East had covered with the ten). South let go of the diamond five, a very far sighted play. West's clubs were very bad, and the eight of diamonds was a better choice. North tossed his lone heart, and the Jack was won by South's Queen. When South tried the club Ace, West followed with the Queen, North played the six. East absolutely gurgled with glee, as he unloaded his spade Queen, while announcing, "Congratulations, it's a girl!" South ignored this comment and proceeded to take three top hearts, discovering the bad break. Ignoring the heart stack in the West hand, South cashed the Ace of diamonds, and was delighted to see West's deuce. The lack of high clubs on the earlier plays of this suit, as well as the low diamond from West, was a road map to Oz! The rest was easy. The King of clubs was played, followed by the nine of clubs, and West was in. He was also thoroughly end played! He had to lead from the guarded heart ten and a small heart into South's Jack nine, a rare example of a finesse on trick #12. Was South lucky? Maybe. Then again, how many Hearts players could have found this line?
Coming next Month: The Annual Hearts Holiday Quiz and a new variation - Five Handed Hearts
Have a great October!
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