IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

Here is another hand where the necessary information is available if you know where to look.

Scoring:  Matchpoints (Pairs)
 
Hand #23
Dlr  E
Vul E/W
S AJ103
H AK63
D K2
C 1084
S 965
H Q875
D 93
C J765
    
S 82
H 104
D AQJ874
C A93

S KQ74
H J92
D 1065
C KQ2
West North
 East
 South


2D Pass
  Pass    DBL
    Pass     3S
  Pass
     4S  All Pass
    

BIDDING:  Most would open the East hand 1D, but he decided on a weak two bid.    My partner in the North chair made a takeout double and I jumped to show a hand worth 9-11 points.  Although his diamond king was of doubtful value, North carried on to game.

PLAY:  East won the first two diamonds followed by the ace and another club.  Since he had opened with a weak two bid, it was now clear East should not hold another honor card.  I won the king of clubs and drew trumps.  I could ruff my last diamond in dummy but I still had a potential heart loser.  I cashed the club queen and stopped to see what I knew about the East hand.  He had shown up with two spades, six diamonds, and at least three clubs.  I knew the heart queen was in the West hand so my only hope was that East started with the singleton or doubleton ten of hearts.  Accordingly, I led the jack of hearts from my hand and West covered with queen as I won the ace.  I next played the king of hearts and was happy to see the ten drop on my right.  My heart nine was good and the contract was safe.

There was nothing difficult about this hand; in fact, East made it too easy by showing me where his high cards were rather than making me find them.  Once you realize a doubleton heart queen in the East hand is not possible, the rest is easy.

Copyright ©2007 Larry Matheny.