IMPROVE YOUR PLAY

with Larry Matheny

Slam bidding can be difficult. One of the problems that occurs frequently is the inability to invite slam. Too often the choice is to sign off in game or blast to the six-level. This pair employed a nice tool to avoid defeat.

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)

#12-32
Dlr	E
Vul	N/S

	KQJ3
	KQ74
	3
	K753

	109765
	1063
	AQ87
	10

	42
	92
	10962
	QJ962

	A8
	AJ85
	KJ54
	A84

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

BIDDING: North used Stayman to uncover the heart fit and was strong enough to invite slam, but not insist upon it. His jump to 3 showed heart support, slam interest, and shortness in an unknown suit. South followed with 3NT asking about the short suit and North indicated it was diamonds. South held a maximum notrump hand but his diamond holding was possibly useless opposite a singleton or void so he reluctantly signed off in game.

Play: West led the 10 of spades and declarer stopped to count his tricks. Assuming hearts behaved he could count only ten. He could ruff one or two diamonds in dummy but that still left a club loser. He won the spade in his hand and drew two rounds of trumps ending in dummy. He next led the diamond from dummy and his jack lost to the queen. He ended with eleven tricks.

Several pairs bid the slam and failed while a few were successful when West led the ace of diamonds. This N/S pair’s score of +650 was average.

Copyright ©2012 Larry Matheny