IMPROVE YOUR PLAY #33 with Larry Matheny

If you are going to bid aggressively, you need to be a good declarer.  Take a look at this hand.

SCORING: IMPs

Hand #33
Dlr   E
Vul N-S
S J7
H Q75
D K107
C 97653
S A1063
H 943
D J543
C 82
    
S Q985
H J
D Q9862
C Q104

S K42
H AK10862
D A
C AKJ
West North
 East
 South

  Pass
  2C
 Pass 2D  Pass 2H
Pass
    3H     Pass
     6H   
All Pass
     


BIDDING:  This was the last hand in a team game and South felt they needed a good result to have a chance to win.  North's bid of 2D was artificial and game forcing showing at least five high card points.  After North raised his heart suit, South leaped to the slam hoping dummy would provide the right cards to cover his losers.

PLAY:  West led a low diamond and declarer analyzed his position.  He could play for the ace of spades to be in the East hand or look to the club suit for extra tricks.  The club suit seemed to offer the best chance so he played the ace and king.  The queen did not drop but the suit did divide 3-2.  Now he needed two entries to dummy so he hoped the opponents' hearts were divided 2-2.  However, when he played the ace of hearts the jack dropped so South led a second heart to dummy's seven.  Next he discarded the club jack on the king of diamonds and ruffed a club to his hand with a high trump.  He then led a heart to dummy picking up the last trump and discarded two spades on the good clubs.  His only loser was a spade at the end.

Assuming the heart jack was a true play, declarer's line of play only needed the clubs to divide 3-2, a 68% chance.  What a simple game this is.  Also note the contact would have been much easier if West's opening lead had been in either black suit.

Copyright ©2007 Larry Matheny.