IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

There are many conventions and agreements available to partnerships get to the best contract.  Here's one that earned the pair a great result.

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)
Hand #49
Dlr   N
Vul N/S
S 4
H J107
D J
C AKQJ7532
S A976
H Q
D 107653
C 1094
    
S QJ832
H K9432
D 42
C 6

S K105
H A865
D AKQ98
C 8
West North
 East
 South

3NT*
 Pass
 6C
   Pass    Pass
    Pass
  
                                                                         *Gambling 3NT
                                                                     
BIDDING:  North's opening bid showed a solid seven+ card suit with no outside ace or king.  South counted tricks and leaped to the small slam in clubs.  He reasoned six no-trump might be dangerous with a spade lead through his hand.

PLAY:  West had no obvious lead and finally picked a low diamond.  Declarer won the jack and quickly claimed all of the tricks.  Note that the unlikely lead of a heart will hold declarer to twelve tricks.  Also, note that six no-trump is indeed doomed with the lead of the queen of spades.

Copyright ©2009 Larry Matheny