IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

 

 

Sometimes is difficult to determine who “owns” the hand.  This East player started with high hopes but in the end, his opponents had bid and made a slam.

 

 

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)

#10-35

Dlr

W

Vul

E/W

S

A87

H

QJ1074

D

9

C

Q972

S

J62

H

9752

D

J10865

C

6

  pad  

S

5

H

 

D

AKQ32

C

KJ108542

 

S

KQ10943

H

AK83

D

74

C

A

West

North

East

South

   Pass

  Pass

     1C

    1S

   Pass

    2S

    3S

    3H

   Pass 

    4D

    DBL

    5C

    Pass       6H        Pass     Pass

    Pass            

   

   

 

 

BIDDING:  East had a great hand and was expecting to end in game or perhaps slam.  However, after showing this very good hand by starting with clubs and then rebidding diamonds, he was virtually ignored by North-South.  The vulnerability kept West from entering the auction but perhaps East should have been even more insistent.  North started with a simple raise in spades but after his partner showed a heart suit, North’s hand became very powerful.  To show this strength, he cue bid 4D to signal a good heart fit.  South cue bid clubs and North jumped to the heart slam. 

 

PLAY:  West led the jack of diamonds to his partner’s ace but South had no trouble taking the rest of the tricks.  Note that a spade slam could be defeated with a heart ruff.  Also, notice that it takes very special defense to beat 5D by East-West.  This was an exciting hand with many different results.

 

 

Copyright ©2010 Larry Matheny