Easy Slam #08-01

IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

Hand evaluation is one of the most important aspects of bridge and goes beyond merely counting your highcard points. It also includes recognizing the importance of a fit with your partner. This hand is a good example.

Scoring: Matchpoints (pairs)

Hand #1
Dlr	N
Vul	E/W

	K843
	AK7
	3
	Q9743

	10
	QJ654
	J62
	8652

	Q7
	109832
	Q10875
	K

	AJ9652

	AK94
	AJ10

West	North	East	South
	1	Pass	1
Pass	2	Pass	3
Pass	4	Pass	6
All Pass

BIDDING: As soon as North opened the bidding South was thinking slam. North had a minimum hand but it became much better when South responded 1

. North's twelve highcard points along with three shortness points for the singleton diamond increased the value to fifteen but that was still in the minimum raise range. South began his slam investigation by making a spade game try by bidding 3

. North's hand now became very good. Knowing his partner held club cards encouraged North to accept the game try. That was all South needed to hear and he quickly bid the small slam.

PLAY: West led a heart and there was nothing to the play. Even though the club king was on-side it wasn't needed. South drew trumps, discarded his two clubs on dummy's heart honors, and ruffed two diamonds in dummy for thirteen tricks. Remember to re-evaluate your hand after every bid at the table.

Note the proper play in the spade suit is to first play dummy's king. You can pick up Q107 on your right but not in the West hand.

Copyright ©2008 Larry Matheny.