Only Seven Trumps #12-21

IMPROVE YOUR PLAY

with Larry Matheny

When searching for a suit contract it is considered desirable to settle in a trump suit containing (at least) eight cards. However, there are times when you must make do with only seven.

Scoring: IMPs (Teams)

#12-21
Dlr	N
Vul	none

	1095
	Q4
	K962
	KJ95

	J76
	AK876
	1074
	107

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	K84
	10953
	QJ85
	63

	AQ32
	J2
	A3
	AQ842

West	North	East	South
	Pass	Pass	1
1	2	2	2
Pass	3	Pass	4
Pass	Pass	Pass

BIDDING: The bidding was routine until North’s spade raise. Most bridge books say it is wrong to raise partner’s second bid suit without 4-card support. That is, unless you have already denied holding four cards in the suit. If North was in possession of four spades, he would have made a negative double over the heart overcall. So South expected only 3-card support and tried for the spade game with only seven trumps.

Play: West led the top two hearts and then switched to a diamond. Declarer won the king and led a spade to the queen. When this held the trick, he continued with a low spade won by West. The diamond continuation was won with the ace followed by the ace of spades. When the suit divided 3-3, the game was made.

At the other table N/S reached a game contract in clubs and lost the obvious three tricks.