IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

 

It’s not always easy to discover what honor cards your partner holds but if you ask the right question, sometimes you strike gold. 

 

 

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)

#11-17

Dlr

S

Vul

N/S

S

J93

H

542

D

Q963

C

AQ6

S

K72

H

J7

D

A10742

C

J85

  pad  

S

105

H

983

D

KJ85

C

10742

 

S

AQ864

H

AKQ106

D

 

C

K93

West

North

East

South

   

   

  

    1S

  Pass  

  2S

  Pass  

    3C

   Pass       4C         Pass         6S

   Pass      Pass       Pass

 

   

 

 

 

BIDDING:  South was delighted to receive a raise from his partner and started thinking about slam.  Since bidding any number of hearts wouldn’t help, he made a help suit game try in clubs.  North cooperated by raising clubs to show a good holding including the ace.  This was all South needed and he quickly bid the slam.

 

PLAY:  Holding the king of trumps and the ace of diamonds, West was optimistic about defeating the slam and started with the ace of diamonds.  Declarer ruffed and saw he only needed to keep his spade losers to one.  He played the ace of spades and continued with a low one to the jack.  With the hearts behaving declarer quickly claimed twelve tricks. 

 

 

Copyright ©2011 Larry Matheny