IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

Some bridge players are born optimists and sometimes that gets them into trouble.  In this hand North took a very optimistic view of his cards but East-West gave declarer all the information he needed to succeed. 

Scoring:  Matchpoints (Pairs Game)
Hand #10
Dlr   W
Vul N/S
S K1075
H Q8632
D 10
C J105
S Q642
H A95
D 7654
C 86
    
S 3
H KJ1074
D KJ983
C 42

S AJ98
H
D AQ2
C AKQ973
West North
 East
 South
Pass
 Pass
 Pass
 2C
   Pass    2D*    Pass
     3C
   Pass
    3H    DBL
     3S
   Pass
    4D    5D     6C
   Pass
    6D!
    Pass
     7S
   DBL
  RDBL!
    Pass
    Pass
   Pass


                                                                         *Artificial game force
                                                                  
BIDDING:  When South opened the bidding he had no idea of the auction that would unfold.  North's response was game forcing but denied a strong suit.  After South showed his club suit, North's heart bid was doubled by East.  Next South bid spades and North cue bid diamonds to agree spades and show a control.  Again East got into the auction this time showing his diamond suit.  South tried to end things by bidding a slam in clubs but North liked his hand so much he again cue bid diamonds trying for a grand slam.  South finally gave in and jumped to the spade grand slam.  After hearing his partner bid so much, West holding a likely spade trick and the heart ace doubled.  But North still wasn't through; he redoubled to close the auction. 

PLAY:  West led the ace of hearts and declarer stopped to consider his play.  The opponents had given him an open book:  East obviously had a red two-suited hand and West held spade length.  Armed with this information, South ruffed the opening lead and then led the ace of spades.  He followed with the jack and quickly drew trumps.  Next, he led a diamond to his queen and wrapped up thirteen tricks (4 spades, 1 heart ruff, 2 diamonds, and 6 clubs).  The score of +2660 won all of the matchpoints.  Most of the N/S pairs ended in a small slam in either clubs or spades. 

Declarer was exhausted and poor West too dazed to speak.  As for North and East, the two optimists, they were unfazed and ready for the next hand. 

Copyright ©2009 Larry Matheny.