IMPROVE YOUR PLAY

With Larry Matheny

 

Here is a hand that requires exact card play to succeed.  If declarer had played even one round of trumps before executing his plan, he would have failed.

 

Scoring:  Matchpoints (Pairs)

#13-23

Dlr

E

Vul

N/S

S

KQ108764

H

7

D

AQ8

C

K10

S

 2

H

 K943

D

 J43

C

 Q9874

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S

 

H

 J1052

D

 K105

C

 AJ6532

 

S

AJ953

H

AQ86

D

9762

C 

 

West

 North

East

South

  -  

-

 Pass

 1S

  Pass

  2NT*

3C

 Pass

    5C

    5S

   Pass

    6S

   Pass

   Pass

   Pass

   

  

 

 

  

 

   

  

  

 

 

 

 

   

    *Jacoby raise   

   

 

Bidding:  South started with a simple 1S and North made a forcing spade raise.  East got involved with a club bid and West jumped to the five-level to exert more pressure.  North took the push to 5S and South decided his club void was worth a try for slam.

 

Play:  West led a low club to the jack and declarer ruffed.  To make this declarer must eliminate hearts and clubs and endplay East.  It must be ace of hearts, ruff a heart, ruff a club, ruff a heart, spade to your hand, ruff the last heart, and a spade back to your hand.  Here is the ending:

                                           SK8   DAQ8

                             DJ43                            DK105

                             CQ9                             CJ6

                                          S9   D9762

 

Declarer now leads a low diamond and covers whatever card West plays.  East wins but must return a diamond or allow declarer to ruff in his hand and discard a diamond from dummy.  An opening spade or diamond lead will defeat the hand.  It is cold when played from the North hand.

 

Copyright ©2013 Larry Matheny