IMPROVE YOUR PLAY #37 with Larry Matheny

Duplicating the hands eliminates much of the luck factor but not entirely.  Sometimes a combination of luck and skill is needed to obtain the best score.  Take a look at this hand.

Scoring: Matchpoints

Hand #37
Dlr   N
Vul N-S
S K95
H KQJ2
D Q1094
C K6
S J6
H 865
D 8532
C 10754
    
S Q873
H 1097
D K7
C AJ92

S A1042
H A43
D AJ6
C Q83
West North
 East
 South

1D  Pass
 3NT
 All Pass

 






BIDDING:  South risked missing a spade contract by his leap to 3NT, but his hand screamed no-trump and he wanted to give away as little information as possible.

PLAY:  West had no attractive opening lead and he finally decided upon the jack of spades, hoping to find a long suit in his partner's hand.  Assuming the spade queen was in the East hand, declarer counted eleven tricks but this was matchpoints scoring so overtricks were vital.  He won with the king in dummy and led the queen of diamonds, East covering with the king.  South was now up to twelve tricks (3 spades, 4 hearts, 4 diamonds, and 1 club) and looked for another one.  He saw if East held the ace of clubs along with length in spades, he could be squeezed.  At trick three he played the jack and another diamond to get to dummy.  Next he led a low club toward his queen and East was finished when he failed to take his ace.  When declarer ran the remaining hearts and diamonds, East had to discard from SQ87 and CA while declarer held SA104 in his hand and the CQ in dummy.

Those declarers who did not receive the spade lead made eleven tricks, those who did made twelve tricks, and those who did and also saw the squeeze brought in all thirteen tricks.  Skill or luck? 

Copyright ©2007 Larry Matheny.