IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

One of the most disastrous results in a team game is a double game swing.  Naturally, it's only bad is when the opponents are the ones who are successful.  Here is such a hand.

Scoring:  IMPs (Team Game)

Hand #4
Dlr   S
Vul N/S
S K92
H Q10962
D 8652
C 4
S J
H 54
D 4
C KQ10876532
    
S 63
H A87
D AJ1073
C AJ9

S AQ108754
H KJ3
D KQ9
C
West North
 East
 South



1S
    5C      5S    End   




West
 North
 East
 South



    1S
    5C    End
   

BIDDING:  At the first table North decided West wasn't fooling and took out insurance by raising spades.  East wanted to double but wasn't certain his club ace would cash.  He gave some thought to bidding 6C, but his partner was an aggressive bidder so he reluctantly passed.  At the other table, North saw no reason to bid.

PLAY:  Against 5S it all came down to the opening lead.  Finally West chose the king of clubs.  Declarer ruffed, drew trumps, and only lost the two red aces.  His score was +650.  If West had led his singleton diamond, the contract could have been defeated. 

At the second table, a spade was led followed by a second round.  The declarer in 5C took advantage of the friendly diamond situation and proceeded to make an overtrick.  He ruffed the second spade, played a diamond to the ace followed by a diamond ruff.  Next a trump to dummy followed by another diamond ruff established the diamond suit.  Another trump to dummy and the losing heart was discarded on a good diamond.  His score was +420.  That meant a total of +1070 and 14 IMPs.  Of course, it could have been worse, E/W could have bid the club slam.

It's often right to "bid one more" in a team game just to avoid a possible double game swing.

Copyright ©2010 Larry Matheny.