While there is no doubt overtricks are important in a pairs event,
making the contract is usually your main priority. Take a look at
this hand where the declarer had to be very careful.
Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)
Hand #48
Dlr
E
Vul
N/S
43
A10
KQ74
KQ632
J9852
432
A1092
4
Q72
9876
85
A1095
AK10
KQJ5
J63
J87
West
North
East
South
Pass
1NT
Pass
3NT
Pass
Pass
Pass
BIDDING: North-South had
an easy auction to 3NT.
PLAY:
West led the five of
spades and was pleased to see his partner play the queen. Before
playing, declarer stopped to count his tricks. He had six tricks
in the majors and it looked like it would be easy to establish three
more in the minors. However, if the clubs didn't break 3-2 he
would have to knock out two aces and the defenders might be able to
establish their spade suit. Recognizing the importance of the ten
of spades, he saw the solution. After winning the first trick, he
led a heart to dummy. Next he led a low club and the defense was
dead. If East rose with the ace, declarer would have four club
tricks. If the club ace was in the West hand, spades could not be
continued into declarer's K10. At the table, East ducked and
after the club jack won the trick, declarer now switched his attack to
diamonds for two more tricks. If he had instead continued clubs,
he would have been defeated by the 4-1 break.
Note that if declarer had played a high club from dummy, he was not
going to succeed.
