Stop and Think #10-20

IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

It usually pays to stop and think before bidding too quickly. Here is a hand where a defender did not use that simple advice.

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)

Hand#20
Dlr	W
Vul	N/S

	9
	KQ5
	KQJ984
	A104

	KQ8732
	86
	732
	53

	J1054
	J73
	A106
	KQJ

	A6
	A10942
	5
	98762

West	North	East	South
2	DBL	4	5
Pass	Pass	Pass

BIDDING: After West’s weak-two bid, North was tempted to overcall in his strong diamond suit, but he did not want to miss a possible heart fit so made a takeout double. Without a great deal of thought, East looked at the favorable vulnerability and continued the preempt by jumping to the four-level. South held a hand with a fit in both hearts and clubs and took the plunge with 5.

PLAY: West led the king of spades and declarer had no problem making eleven tricks. He won the ace of spades and followed with the king of diamonds. East won the ace and shifted to the king of clubs. Declarer won the ace, ruffed a diamond (in case they were 4-2), and drew trumps ending in dummy. He had 5 hearts, 4 diamonds, 1 club, and 1 spade. With the ten of diamonds dropping, he could have made twelve tricks but he knew he was in a good contract and played safely.

So, what does this have to do with bidding too quickly? East had a great opportunity to help the defense. Instead of jumping to 4, he could have made a lead-directing bid of 3. It’s seemed likely the opponents would end up in hearts and the defense does not figure to take many spade tricks. He could help his cause by asking for a club lead before bidding 4. The opponents have no good answer to this. If they bid 5 they will lose 2 clubs and 1 diamond. If they double 4, they will defeat it only three tricks for less than their vulnerable game.