Find the Queen #09-36

IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

Solving a bridge problem often takes little more than counting to thirteen. The auction, the play of the hand, and that math skill showed this declarer the way to success.

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)

Hand #36
Dlr	W
Vul	none

	AK109
	52
	QJ103
	A98

	7
	AJ109876
	7
	Q763

	843
	K43
	A98542
	4

	QJ652
	Q
	K6
	KJ1052

West	North	East	South
3	DBL	Pass	4
Pass	Pass	Pass

BIDDING: After North’s takeout double, South had enough to jump to game.

PLAY: West led his singleton diamond won by the ace. East returned the nine of diamonds, a suit preference for hearts (higher ranking side suit). West ruffed but since he held no more trumps, followed with the ace and another heart. Declarer ruffed, drew trumps, and then had to find the queen of clubs to make his game. His first instinct was to place it in the East hand but he stopped to see what information he had uncovered. First, West surely had seven hearts for his vulnerable preempt. The play proved West held only one diamond and one spade so that left him with four clubs and the problem was solved. When East followed with a low club on the king, declarer confidently played another to dummy’s nine.

All declarer had to do was count to thirteen.