IMPROVE YOUR PLAY

with Larry Matheny

 

Matchpoint bridge is all about maximizing your plus scores and minimizing your minus scores.  That means overtricks are extremely important.  In this hand, declarer read the opponents’ cards correctly and was rewarded with three extra tricks.

 

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)

#12-30

Dlr

W

Vul

N/S

S

AQ974

H

K873

D

Q72

C

A

S

 K108632

H

 942

D

 1043

C

 3

/images/pad.bmp

S

 

H

 AQJ106

D

 9

C

 Q1087652

 

S

J5

H

5

D

AKJ865

C

KJ94

West

North

East

South

Pass

1S

    2C

2D

Pass

2H

 Pass

3NT

Pass

Pass

Pass

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

  

BIDDING:  South decided the vulnerability suggested game would be more valuable than defending a club contract.  North’s heart rebid kept East from showing his second suit.

 

Play:  West led the three of clubs won by dummy’s ace.  Declarer saw the contract was safe so he went after overtricks.  He led a diamond to his hand followed by the jack of spades.  West covered with the king and declarer won the ace as East discarded a high heart.  Declarer returned to his hand with a diamond, led another spade to dummy’s nine, and then cashed the spade queen.  Next, he led the queen of diamonds overtaking with the ace.  Here was the 3-card ending after the last diamond was played:

 

                                      H- A

                                      C- Q10

                  H-5  C- KJ

 

Declarer simply exited with his heart and East had to return a club so South had 12 tricks for a good result.

 

 

 

Copyright ©2012 Larry Matheny