IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

Most defenders rush to grab their ace when a singleton is led through them.  Sometimes it's right but other times you give up two tricks while gaining only one. 

Scoring:  Matchpoints (Pairs)

Hand #50
Dlr   E
Vul N/S
S K95
H AKJ632
D 874
C 7
S Q10876
H 1098
D Q5
C 843
    
S J3
H Q4
D J92
C AJ10952

S A42
H 75
D AK1063
C KQ6
West North
 East
 South


 Pass  1NT
    Pass    4D*     Pass
     4H  
All Pass
    

                                                                        *Texas Transfer

BIDDING:  North used a transfer convention to allow the stronger hand to receive the opening lead and become declarer. 

PLAY:  West led the seven of spades and declarer counted a potential loser in each suit.  But, he saw a way to put his club honors to work so he won the first trick in his hand and at trick two led a heart to dummy's king.  Next he led the club from dummy and East couldn't wait to pop with his ace muttering something like "not through the big guy".  Declarer won the spade continuation with dummy's king and played a diamond to his hand.  It was easy to play his two winning clubs discarding a diamond and a spade from dummy.  Next he took the losing heart finesse but racked up eleven tricks losing only a club and a heart. 

Look what happens if East isn't so eager to play his ace of clubs.  Declarer wins the king in his hand but still has to lose a spade and a diamond.  In a pairs event where overtricks are extremely valuable, the difference between +620 and +650 can be a lot of matchpoints.

Copyright ©2008 Larry Matheny.