IMPROVE YOUR PLAY

with Larry Matheny

There are so many card combinations it is impossible to recognize every one. However, it does pay to stop and think before playing.

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)

#12-33
Dlr	E
Vul	N/S

	1074
	KQJ10
	K104
	Q74

	AKJ53
	3
	Q963
	AJ10

	986
	764
	J75
	9532

	Q2
	A9852
	A82
	K86

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

BIDDING: North cue bid spades to show a limit raise or better in support of hearts. South held a minimum hand that included a possible worthless queen of spades so he declined the game try.

Play: West led the top three spades with declarer ruffing the third one. Declarer saw a possible loser in diamonds and two in clubs. To make his contract declarer planned an elimination play. He drew trumps followed by a low club to dummy’s queen. Next he led a low club ducked to West’s jack. West cashed the ace of clubs but realized he had to lead a diamond or give declarer a ruff/sluff. Without enough thought West led the three of diamonds that picked up East’s jack and was won by declarer. Now declarer led a diamond to the ten and wrapped up his contract losing only two spades and two clubs.

A more thoughtful West would have shifted to the queen of diamonds instead of the three. Declarer has no answer to this and must lose a diamond trick. It all came down to the location of the nine of diamonds.

Copyright ©2012 Larry Matheny