IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

Defense is difficult and sometimes the opening lead is the difference between failure and success.  This hand is from a recent team game.

Scoring:  Team Game (IMPs)
 
Hand #19
Dlr  S
Vul none
S 73
H Q853
D QJ72
C AQ7
S AQ842
H J64
D K5
C J105
    
S 10965
H 102
D 83
C K8643

S KJ
H AK97
D A10964
C 92
West North
 East
 South



1D
   1S    DBL
    3S*      4H
All Pass
  
   
    
*Weak

BIDDING:  South should have opened 1NT since he would have a rebid problem over a 1S response.  However, West overcalled 1S and North made a negative double promising four hearts along with the values to play at the two-level.  East made a weak jump raise and South bid the heart game.
 
PLAY:  West decided to lead a trump hoping his partner could get in to lead a spade.  Declarer saw the danger of letting East into the lead so he drew trumps and then led the queen of diamonds.  West won and shifted to a club but South went up with the ace.  He quickly played four more diamonds discarding a spade from dummy.  Declarer made four losing one spade, one diamond, and one club.

At the other table, West led a club on opening lead and declarer had no choice but to take the finesse.  East won the king and put the ten of spades on the table.  This declarer ended up losing two spades, one diamond, and one club.   Luck or good bridge?  You be the judge.

Also note that the very bad lead of the ace of spades would allow South to easily succeed.

Copyright ©2007 Larry Matheny.