IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

One of the most frequent mistakes made on defense is the automatic return of partner's opening lead.  Here is another hand that demonstrates that point.


Scoring:  Matchpoints (Pairs)
Hand #18
Dlr   W
Vul None
S 10
H KJ87
D KQ865
C 653
S KQ97
H 63
D J103
C J1098
    
S 8543
H 9542
D A2
C K72

S AJ62
H AQ10
D 974
C AQ4
West North
 East
 South
Pass
 Pass
 Pass
 1NT
   Pass     2C     Pass     2S
   Pass
    2NT     Pass 
   3NT   
   Pass
    Pass
     Pass

BIDDING:  North-South used Stayman to search for a possible major suit contract.  Failing at that, they bid the game in notrump.

PLAY:  The auction warned West against a spade lead so he started with the jack of clubs.  East encouraged with the seven as declarer won the queen.  (Perhaps East should have played the king in case the opening lead was from AJ10x).  Declarer won the first club followed by a low diamond to dummy's king.  East ducked and declarer returned to his hand to lead another diamond.  East won the ace and played the king of clubs.  Declarer played low and West followed with the ten.  This showed either an original three-card suit (J10x) or interest in a shift to spades.  East decided it was the latter and put the spade eight (attitude) on the table.  Declarer was forced to duck as West won the queen.  West now continued clubs and declarer was doomed.  West still had to win the diamond jack along with the two club tricks, the ace of diamonds, and the queen of spades. 

Note that declarer erred by ducking the second club and giving the opponents a chance to shift to spades.  East's play in the club suit was consistent with a holding of three cards. 

Copyright ©2009 Larry Matheny.