IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

 

 

As declarer, it is so important to identify the dangerous opponent and play accordingly.  This hand makes that very point.

 

 

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)

Hand#28

Dlr

E

Vul

N/S

S

QJ

H

753

D

KQ96

C

K1052

S

K10863

H

AQ82

D

754

C

4

  pad  

S

742

H

J1096

D

1083

C

Q97

 

S

A95

H

K4

D

AJ2

C

AJ863

West

North

East

South

  

  

   Pass

   1NT

   Pass

   3NT

   Pass

   Pass

   Pass

   

  

   

             

   

 

 

 

BIDDING:  North had an easy raise to game opposite his partner’s 15-17 opening bid.

 

PLAY:  West led the six of spades and dummy’s jack held the trick.  Declarer counted his tricks and quickly saw he needed to attack the club suit.  He also saw the danger of East gaining the lead and shifting to hearts.  With that in mind, at trick two declarer played the king of clubs followed by a low one to his jack.  The finesse was successful and South now had 11 tricks: 2 spades, 4 diamonds, and 5 clubs.  The contract would have been safe even if the finesse had failed.  However, if declarer had been careless and played for the clubs to divide 2-2, after winning the third club East may have found the deadly heart shift. 

 

 

 

Copyright ©2010 Larry Matheny