IMPROVE YOUR PLAY

With Larry Matheny

As declarer, it is so important to develop your line of play before you play to the first trick. This hand makes that very point.

Scoring: IMPs (Teams)

#13-41
Dlr	E
Vul	N/S

	A5
	KQ103
	876
	A1082

	K9
	762
	A103
	Q7653

	QJ10743
	8
	QJ54
	J9

	862
	AJ954
	K92
	K4

West	North	East	South
-	-	2	Pass
Pass	DBL	Pass	4
Pass	Pass	Pass

Bidding: North made a takeout double and South jumped to the heart game.

Play: West led the king of spades and declarer stopped to analyze the hand. He saw a spade loser and three possible diamond losers. His goal was to keep East out of the lead to prevent a diamond lead through his hand. Therefore, he ducked the first spade and won the second. Next, he drew trumps followed by the king and ace of clubs. His original game plan was to ruff the third round of clubs, ruff his last spade in dummy, and then lead dummy’s last club pitching a diamond. He hoped West would then have to lead a diamond. However, when the jack and nine of clubs appeared, he simply had to lead third club and discard a diamond. Dummy’s good 10 of clubs was now a parking place for another diamond and declarer had his ten tricks.

Note if the first spade is not ducked, West can put East in the lead for the deadly diamond switch.

Copyright ©2013 Larry Matheny