IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

When declaring a hand it's important to maintain control but when the trumps mis-behave, that can be difficult.  Setting a goal for the number of tricks you need is one method of handling a bad situation.

Scoring:  IMPs (Teams)

Hand #40
Dlr   E
Vul E/W
S QJ86
H AQ93
D
C AQ1074
S 7
H 10542
D K87652
C 65
    
S AK43
H J6
D AQJ43
C 92

S 10952
H K87
D 109
C KJ83
West North
 East
 South


1D Pass
    3D*    DBL    Pass     3S    
   Pass
    4S All Pass
  
*Weak

BIDDING:  After West's preemptive raise, North made a takeout double.  South showed his spade suit and North raised to game.  This was a team event where it pays to bid the games.

PLAY:  West's diamond lead was ruffed in dummy.  The game looked safe as long as the trumps behaved.  Declarer led the queen of spades which held the trick.  Declarer noted the fall of the spade seven from West and suspected the 4-1 trump break.  Since declarer only needed ten tricks, he simply started cashing his clubs and hearts allowing East to win his three spades.  This limited the defense to just those three tricks and N-S chalked up their game.  At the other table, declarer led a second spade and lost control with the 4-1 trump break. 

In a team game it is correct to ensure the success of the contract.  Playing a second round of trumps hoping to make an overtrick may be best in a pairs event, but in a team game it is most certainly not.

Copyright ©2007 Larry Matheny.