Double Game Swing #11-34

IMPROVE YOUR PLAY

with Larry Matheny

There are two really large disasters to avoid in a team game: 1) Going for a large number, and 2) losing a double game swing. One of these teams wants to forget this hand ever happened.

Scoring: IMPs (Teams)

#11-34
Dlr	E
Vul	E-W

	AJ8743
	95
	9873
	10

	92
	1082
	AJ105
	KQJ7

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	AKQJ764
	6
	96542

	KQ1065
	3
	KQ42
	A83

West	North	East	South
		3	3
Pass	4	Pass	Pass
Pass

BIDDING: Noting the adverse vulnerability, East opened a timid three-level preempt. South overcalled and North raised to game. It takes the ace of clubs and a club ruff to beat a heart slam and West was also to blame. He had a good raise of a vulnerable versus non-vulnerable preempt but passed instead. In team play, it pays to be bold.

PLAY: West led the deuce of hearts to East’s jack. East thought about switching to this singleton diamond but remembered he had no trump so he continued with a second heart. Declarer stopped to analyze his hand and saw he was safe as long as he didn’t lose three diamonds. He ruffed the second heart and then played ace and a club ruffed in dummy. He next drew two rounds of trumps followed by a club ruff in dummy. Now with hearts and clubs eliminated, he simply had to pass the nine of diamonds. West won the ten but had to return a diamond or concede a ruff/sluff.

Ironically, it would appear East does have to shift to his singleton diamond at trick two to break up the end-play. West can win, exit with a club, and wait on his other two diamond tricks. However, declarer can still eliminate the round suits and end-play West with the second round of diamonds. At the other table, E/W played 5 making six when the club ruff was not found. So +420 and +650 add to 1100 points and a 15 IMP swing. Ouch!