IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

It's nice when the opponents pass allowing you to find your best contract but much of the time, they get in your way.  This often means scrambling for your tricks; take a look at this one.

Scoring:  Matchpoints  (Pairs)
 
Hand #24
Dlr   W
Vul N/S
S QJ
H 1093
D 87543
C Q82
S 87643
H 8762
D 1062
C 4
    
S 2
H KQ54
D KJ9
C KJ1065

S AK1095
H AJ
D AQ
C A973
West North
 East
 South
Pass
 Pass
 1H DBL
   3H    Pass
    Pass
    DBL
   Pass
     4D    Pass
     4S
All Pass



BIDDING:  South's hand was too strong to merely overcall so he started with a takeout double.  West made a preemptive raise to the three-level and South doubled again to show a very good hand.  With no defense, North bid his five-card diamond suit.  South finally was able to show his spade suit and North passed hoping the queen and jack of spades would be enough support.

PLAY:  West led a heart and South counted five potential losers: one heart, one diamond, and three clubs.  A review of the auction told declarer both minor suit kings were probably in the East hand so at least the diamond finesse should work.  He also wanted to take advantage of dummy's heart ten so he won the heart queen with the ace and returned the jack.  East won the king and switched to a trump.  Declarer won this in dummy and played a second trump to get the bad news about the spade suit.  Next he played the ten of hearts discarding a club and then took the winning diamond finesse.  He now had ten tricks: five spades, two hearts, two diamonds, and one club.

It may appear the contract can be defeated with an opening club lead, but careful play will still bring home ten tricks.  Declarer should lose only one heart, one club, and a club ruff.  Also note that declarer has an easy nine tricks in 3NT. 

Copyright ©2007 Larry Matheny.