IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

This hand is another example of avoiding finesses.  Take a look.

Scoring:  Teams (IMPs)
 
Hand #16
Dlr  S
Vul none
S Q52
H 3
D 764
C J109762
S K6
H J1094
D J9532
C A8
    
S 4
H A7652
D KQ108
C Q54

S AJ109873
H KQ8
D A
C K3
West North
 East
 South



2C
   Pass    2D    Pass  
    4S  
All Pass



BIDDING:   This partnership shows controls (aces and kings) in response to a 2C opener.  The 2D response denied an ace and promised zero or one king so South knew game was high enough.
 
PLAY:   West led the jack of hearts won by East.  A spade was led at trick two and if declarer like finesses, here is his first  opportunity.  This would lose to the king and later South would have to guess the club finesse to make the hand.  However, this declarer thought it unlikely Ease had underled the spade king so he rose with the ace.  Next he played the diamond ace followed by the king and queen of hearts pitching two diamonds from dummy.  With the red suits stripped, he now threw West in with the spade king.  West had to either lead a club or give declarer a sluff and a ruff.

Of course South can always make the contract by guessing clubs, but that is a 50% proposition.  If East made a sneaky play of a spade away from the king at trick two, you still make the hand with a club guess.

Copyright ©2007 Larry Matheny.