IMPROVE YOUR PLAY

With Larry Matheny

Here is an old hand I found when cleaning out my desk. It shows you should not give up even when things look hopeless.

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)

#13-49
Dlr	W
Vul	N/S

	AK4
	832
	K87652
	K

	Q32
	Q65
	Q103
	10854

	1076
	AJ1074
	J9
	J93

	J985
	K9
	A4
	AQ762

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

Bidding: After making a negative double looking for a spade fit, South bid 3NT.

Play: I was in the West chair and led the 5 of hearts. Partner played the ten and declarer won the king. Declarer counted 8 tricks (2 spades, 1 heart, 2 diamonds, and 3 clubs) with no prospects for a 9th one. To solve this dilemma, he simply led a low heart that I won with the queen. I led my last heart to partner but he had no good continuation. If he leads a 4^th heart I am squeezed. A discard from any suit gives declarer his 9^th trick. If instead partner shifts to another suit, declarer just ducks a diamond to me. It does me no good to shift after I win the second heart; declarer just wins and leads a 3^rd heart. He effectively broke our communications.

Well played and it still hurts many years later.

Copyright ©2013 Larry Matheny