IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

Finding the right opening lead can be difficult but the auction is often a big help.  But, as you will see with this hand, sometimes the defenders just don't listen.

Scoring:  Matchpoints  (Pairs)
 
Hand #30
Dlr   E
Vul N/S
S AKQ3
H AJ652
D 74
C K8
S 54
H Q1094
D J10532
C 42
    
S 6
H 873
D AK9
C J97653

S J109872
H K
D Q86
C AQ10
West North
 East
 South


Pass
 1S 
    Pass    2H*    Pass     2S
    Pass
    3S    Pass
     4C
    Pass
    4H    Pass
     4S
All Pass


*Game Forcing

BIDDING:  South's hand wasn't the greatest but it's one most of us would open.  North immediately had visions of a spade slam and playing the 2/1 system, his heart bid created a game force.  Their system uses mandatory cue bidding after the forcing raise so South showed his club control.  But, when North failed to show a diamond control, South stopped in game.

PLAY:  This was played in a local club game and none of the West players found a diamond lead.  The declarers were each able to discard a diamond from dummy on a club honor and make twelve tricks.  One pair even bid and made slam.  I don't know the bidding at each table but I would have thought at least one pair had an auction similar to the one above where the diamond weakness was painfully obvious to everyone at the table. 

Could you and your partner stay out of slam with these cards?  Or perhaps you should bid it and hope for the same defense.

Copyright ©2007 Larry Matheny.