IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

When competing it helps to have the right tools and know when you use them.  Here is a hand where the vulnerability helped a pair find a great save against the opponents' game contract.

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)
Hand #39
Dlr   N
Vul E/W


S 64
H 983
D AQ105
C K1084
S 10852
H A1072
D KJ876
C
    
S AK
H KQJ54
D 943
C J65

S QJ973
H 6
D 2
C AQ9732
West North
 East
 South

Pass
 1H 2H*
   4H    4NT    Pass
     5C
   Pass
    Pass
    DBL
    Pass
   Pass
    Pass
   

                                                                          *Michaels Cue Bid
                                                                                            
BIDDING:  South's cue bid showed spades and a minor with 10+ cards in the two suits.  West leaped to game but North continued with 4NT asking South for his minor suit.  South bid clubs and East ended the auction with a double.

PLAY:  West led the ace of hearts and continued the suit.  South ruffed followed by ace and a club to dummy.  Next he led a low spade won by East who led a third heart.  Declarer ruffed again, drew the last trump, and led a diamond to dummy's ace.  A low spade brought forth the other honor from East and South was still able to ruff another spade in dummy to escape for down one.  Most E/W pairs were allowed to make game in hearts losing only two diamonds and a diamond ruff. 


Copyright ©2009 Larry Matheny