IMPROVE YOUR PLAY

With Larry Matheny

A strong declarer will resort to a finesse only when his other options are gone.

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)

#13-50
Dlr	N
Vul	E/W

	732
	K753
	QJ
	QJ85

	K94
	J
	K97642
	1043

	J1085
	1084
	10853
	A6

	AQ6
	AQ962
	A
	K972

West	North	East	South
-	Pass	Pass	1
Pass	2	Pass	4
Pass	Pass	Pass

Bidding: North-South had a routine auction to game.

Play: West led a low club to his partner’s ace. East returned a club to declarer’s king. Assuming hearts behaved, declarer saw the contract was secure. He took the safety play by leading a low heart to dummy’s king and another back to his hand. He drew the last trump followed by the ace of diamonds. Next he cashed his last two clubs and then played dummy’s queen of diamonds. When East followed with a low diamond, declarer discarded a spade loser. With the minor suits eliminated, West now had to lead a spade or concede a ruff/sluff. Making the overtrick was a good score since most made only ten tricks. If East had held the king of diamonds, declarer would have had to rely on the spade finesse for the overtrick.

East must shift to a spade at trick two to break up the end-play.

Copyright ©2013 Larry Matheny