IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

A careful declarer will expect the worse and prepare for it.  Sometimes it just needs a slip by an opponent.  Take a look.

Scoring:  Matchpoints (Pairs)

Hand #47
Dlr   N
Vul N/S
S QJ
H KQ104
D J3
C J8732
S A87
H 986
D 9872
C KQ5
    
S 109542
H J3
D KQ65
C 64

S K63
H A752
D A104
C A109
West North
 East
 South

Pass
  Pass
 1NT
   Pass  
    2C       Pass
     2H  
   Pass
     4H All Pass
 
BIDDING:  North-South reached game after using the Stayman convention to find their heart fit.

PLAY:  West made the best lead of a low diamond and declarer saw he must lose a spade and a diamond so he could only afford to lose one club.  This didn't seem to be difficult because the probability of East holding one of the missing honors was 75%.  However, it was possible for both the king and queen of clubs to be in the West hand so declarer continued with that in mind.  He won the diamond opening lead followed by a spade toward dummy.  West won the ace and led a second diamond to East's king.  Without much thought, East led a second spade to dummy's queen.  Now declarer only had to play the king and ace of hearts followed by the spade king and diamond ten to eliminate the pointed suits.  Next declarer drew the last trump with dummy's queen followed by a low club to his ten.  West won this but had to return a club or give declarer a ruff/sluff. 

The error was committed by East.  Playing too quickly, East should have wondered why declarer wasn't drawing trumps.  An elimination play was a strong possibility and all East did was help declarer.  He must return a club after winning the diamond trick.  This would allow West to win and exit safely. 

Copyright ©2008 Larry Matheny.