IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

 

Aces and the other honor cards usually receive the glory, but every now and then one of the lowly spot cards is the hero.  Take a look at a mighty seven’s moment in the spotlight.

 

Scoring: IMPs (Team Game)

#10-51

Dlr

N

Vul

E/W

S

J97

H

AQ4

D

A92

C

7432

S

6

H

J1086

D

1084

C

KJ1065

  pad  

S

A8532

H

753

D

653

C

A9

 

S

KQ104

H

K92

D

KQJ7

C

Q8

West

North

East

South

   Pass

  Pass

  Pass

   1NT

   Pass

  3NT      

  Pass

  Pass

    Pass     

 

 

BIDDING:  This was a routine auction to game.

 

PLAY:  West decided to attack with his longest suit and promptly put the jack of clubs on the table.  After all, this is usually the correct card to lead from this holding.  East won the trick with the ace and fired back his other club.  East won the king and the jack but the seven in dummy was now high.  Declarer simply knocked out the ace of spades and had his nine tricks.

 

At the other table, West realized he had no other entry to his hand so he started with the six of clubs.  His partner also won the ace and returned the suit.  These five club tricks along with the ace of spades meant down two for this declarer.

 

We follow so many rules (third hand high, cover an honor, etc.) but this hand shows it is sometimes better to make an exception.

 

 

Copyright ©2010 Larry Matheny