IMPROVE YOUR PLAY #1

It is one of the basics of bridge that after the auction one pair defends while the other declares. However, many contracts are won or lost simply because the players did not listen to or remember the auction. See how you would have done with these hands.

Hand #1
Dlr	N
Vul	E-W

	A
	Q98
	9864
	87643

	QJ9832
	6
	7
	AQJ94

	K75
	AKJ54
	AJ5
	K10

	1064
	10732
	KQ1032
	5

West	North	East	South
	pass	1	pass
1	pass	2NT	pass
3	pass	3	pass
4	pass	4	double
6	(all pass)

BIDDING: East's rebid of 2NT showed 18-19 high card points. With his good two-suited hand, West was interested in slam. East cooperated by first showing spade support and then cue bidding the diamond ace. South doubled 4

hoping to get a diamond lead.

PLAY: The only thing North remembered from the bidding was his partner's double so he cooperated by leading a diamond against the 6

contract. Declarer won the diamond lead, lost a trump trick, and quickly claimed twelve tricks. If North had only LISTENED TO THE BIDDING, he would have realized that declarer bid clubs twice to show at least five, dummy jumped to 2NT indicating a balanced hand with at least two clubs, so it was simple math to realize South could hold no more than one club. Holding the trump ace, it would be a simple matter for North to lead a club, win the spade at trick two, and give his partner a club ruff to defeat the contract.

Hand #2 -- East-West vulnerable at matchpoints.

Hand #2
Dlr	N
Vul	E-W

	A
	A732
	A65
	Q9742

	K109872
	Q1065
	10
	A10

	J543

	Q8743
	J863

	Q6
	KJ984
	KJ94
	K5

West	North	East	South
	1	pass	1
1	2	3	4
(all pass)

BIDDING: The 4

contract was reached with little problem. East's 3

bid was weak and the pair would have no doubt sacrificed at 4

if they had not been at unfavorable vulnerability. Assuming North-South lead spades twice, a 4

contract would be held to eight or nine tricks.

PLAY: Defending 4

, West erred by leading her singleton diamond. When holding length in declarer's trump suit, it is usually best to lead your long suit hoping to force declarer to shorten his trumps. East hesitated a moment before following with a low diamond so it was clear to declarer that the lead was from a short suit. REMEMBERING THE BIDDING, it seemed West held six spades and if she was short in diamonds, she probably had length in trumps. Accordingly, South played the heart king at trick two and discovered the 4-0 split. Without the opening lead, the normal play would be to the heart ace and back toward the South hand. Declarer now was able to lose only one trump trick and ended up making five for the top result. Most declarers only made four or lost their way ending down one after losing one spade, two hearts, and one club.

Hand #3
Dlr	W
Vul	N-S

	K1043
	10943
	964
	A6

	A9862
	6
	AQ2
	KQ85

	J5
	82
	108753
	J1093

	Q7
	AKQJ75
	KJ
	742

West	North	East	South
1	pass	pass	3
pass	4	(all pass)

BIDDING: South could have just bid 2

but the jump to 3

in the pass out position shows an intermediate hand with a good suit. North liked the location of her spade king and continued on to game.

PLAY: West led the king of clubs and declarer saw that he had four possible losers: one spade, two diamonds, and one club. From the BIDDING, it seemed likely that West held most of the high cards but there was room for the spade jack or diamond queen in the East hand. Since it was important to never let East in to lead a diamond through, declarer ducked the first trick. West continued with a club and South drew trumps in two rounds while ruffing his last club. South then led a low spade that West had to duck. Winning with the king, he continued with a small spade toward his hand. East had to play the jack, which solved declarer's problem. However, if East has followed with a small spade, declarer still had West in trouble. If West led a spade or a diamond, declarer would have ten tricks. If instead he led a club, it would allow declarer to ruff in dummy as he discarded a losing diamond. It came down to placing the high cards from the bidding.