IMPROVE YOUR PLAY

With Larry Matheny

It’s not always clear whether it is best to compete or to pass. This hand illustrates that problem.

Hand 12-51
Dlr	E
Vul	Both

	AK6
	J106
	Q643
	1082

	J10732
	Q84
	J1085
	6

	Q854
	A97
	2
	AK973

	9
	K532
	AK97
	QJ54

West	North	East	South
-	-	1	Pass
Pass	DBL	Pass	2
Pass	Pass	Pass

Bidding: North would have been better off if he passed East’s opening bid but he made a balancing double and South jumped in hearts to end the auction.

Play: West led his singleton club to his partner’s king. East cashed the ace of clubs and then shifted to his singleton diamond. Declarer won the queen in dummy and led a low trump. East rose with the heart ace and gave his partner a club ruff. West returned a diamond for East to ruff and then East played a fourth club. West ruffed with the queen and gave East another diamond ruff.

East-West earned +200 which was worth more than the partscore in spades bid at several tables. Poor North kept mumbling “I should have passed.”

Copyright ©2012 Larry Matheny