IMPROVE YOUR PLAY

with Larry Matheny

The elimination of the side suits followed by putting the lead in a defender’s hand for a fortuitist lead is a play that all declarers need to employ. In this hand, poor West was the victim.

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)

#12-10
Dlr	W
Vul	none

	AJ3
	AK83
	A963
	K10

	KQ84
	J6
	KJ5
	Q976

	10652
	95
	104
	A8432

	97
	Q10742
	Q872
	J5

West	North	East	South
1	DBL	Pass	1
Pass	3	Pass	4
Pass	Pass	Pass

BIDDING: South’s response of 1 showed 0-7 high card points. North’s jump bid invited game and South accepted.

Play: West led the king of spades and was immediately disappointed when the ace and jack hit in dummy. Declarer saw he had one spade loser, possibly two in diamonds, and a guess in the club suit. He won the ace of spades followed by the ace and queen of hearts. Next, he led his last spade toward dummy and West rose with the queen. A low club followed and declarer guessed correctly by playing the ten. East won the ace and played a second round. Declarer won the king and discarded a diamond on the jack of spades. The black suits had been eliminated so it was now easy for declarer to lead a low diamond and play the seven when East followed with the four. West won the jack but was forced to lead away from his king of diamonds or concede a ruff/sluff.

Although East should play his ten of diamonds on the first round, the end-play still works. Declarer will cover the ten with the queen but now West will have to lead away from his jack.

Copyright ©2012 Larry Matheny