IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

Holding length in declarer's trump suit is usually a strong asset for the defense.  But, it's important to keep control of that suit until releasing it can work to your advantage.  Take a look.

Scoring:  Matchpoints (pairs)

Hand #5
Dlr   E
Vul E/W
S 1053
H J6
D AQ
C KJ9763
S 9842
H K983
D 965
C 84
    
S AKQ7
H 75
D 10874
C 1052

S J6
H AQ1042
D KJ32
C AQ
West North
 East
 South


Pass
 1H
   Pass     2C    Pass
     2D
   Pass
     2H    Pass
     4H
All Pass
   
  
  

BIDDING:  South had a good hand and partner's two-level response made game likely.  After opener's rebid in diamonds, North took a preference to hearts.  Realizing his partner would probably have bid notrump with a spade honor, South jumped to game in hearts.

PLAY:  The bidding begged for a spade lead and West obliged.  Declarer ruffed the third spade followed by a diamond to dummy in order to lead the jack of hearts.  This won the trick when West ducked.  However, West won the next heart and led a fourth spade and South had no answer.  Since he had lost three tricks, he ruffed the spade but West's fourth trump was the setting trick.  Note if West wins the first heart, a spade continuation could be ruffed in dummy and declarer would succeed.

Perhaps more delicate bidding could have found the cold 5C contract.

Copyright ©2008 Larry Matheny.     stats