IMPROVE YOUR PLAY

With Larry Matheny

 

Getting to the best contract can often be difficult.  It’s good to keep in mind that nine tricks are sometimes easier than ten.

 

Scoring:  Matchpoints (Pairs)

#14-19

Dlr

E

Vul

E/W

S

KQ9

H

Q63

D

874

C

AKQ2

S

 108752

H

 82

D

 J10

C

 7643

/images/pad.bmp

S

 A643

H

 974

D

 AK62

C

 J9

 

S

J

H

AKJ105

D

Q953

C 

1085

 

 

  West

 North

East

South

    -     

-

 1D

1H

    Pass

 2D

 Pass

2H

    Pass

    3D

   Pass

   3NT

    Pass

   Pass

   Pass

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

       

   

Bidding:  South made a light one-level overcall.  North’s cue bid asked how good the overcall was and South indicated a minimum.  Not giving up, North thought nine tricks might be available so his second cue bid asked for a diamond stopper.  South bid the game.  

 

Play:  West led the jack of diamonds ducked by East and won by declarer with the queen.  Declarer counted nine tricks and went looking for an overtrick.  He cashed the top two clubs and when the jack dropped, led a third one to his ten.  He now had ten tricks: 5 hearts, 1 diamond, and 4 clubs.

 

Several N/S pairs reached game in hearts and were quickly defeated by the ace-king of diamonds, a diamond ruff, and the ace of spades.

 

 

Copyright 2014