IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

What exactly is a "solid" suit?  The declarer in this hand was missing the jack and it came back to beat him.

Scoring:  Matchpoints (Pairs)

Hand #27
Dlr   E
Vul N/S
S 6
H KQ10
D AQ10976
C K54
S J874
H AJ754
D K2
C 98
    
S 5
H 92
D 8543
C J107632

S AKQ10932
H 863
D J
C AQ
West North
 East
 South


Pass
 1S
   Pass     2D    Pass
     3S
   Pass
    4NT
    Pass 
    5D
   Pass
    6S    Pass
    Pass
   Pass


                                                                                         
BIDDING:  North's diamond response was forcing to game.  South's unnecessary jump in spades promised a solid suit and set trumps.  North used Roman Keycard Blackwood to discover South held three of the five keycards (4 aces + spade king) and confidently bid the slam. 

PLAY:  West led the ace of hearts and later won a trick with the jack of spades.  North was understandably upset and pointed out that with the favorable diamond situation, slam would make in either diamonds or notrump.  The jack of spades was pleased to finally receive the credit he felt he deserved.

This may have been an unlucky hand for declarer but solid should mean solid.  Many partnerships use this jump to show a suit that will have only one loser opposite a singleton. 

Copyright ©2009 Larry Matheny.