IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

Here's a hand where declarer had to be very careful about entries to his hand.  Take a look.

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)
Hand #44
Dlr   W
Vul N/S
S AJ
H K96
D AJ1092
C AQJ
S KQ10863
H 8432
D
C K63
    
S 975
H AQ75
D 874
C 972

S 42
H J10
D KQ653
C 10854
West North
 East
 South
2S DBL
 3S Pass
   Pass
   DBL
    Pass
     5D
   Pass
    Pass
    Pass
     
                                                                        
BIDDING:  North made a takeout double of the weak two bid but South could do no more than pass over East's raise.  When North made another double showing a very big hand, South came to life and jumped to the diamond game.

PLAY:  West led the king of spades and South counted four possible losers: 1 spade, 2 hearts, and 1 club.  Declarer realized he needed the king of clubs in the West hand to make the contract.  He won the ace of spades and followed with the ace of diamonds.  West showed out causing South a moment of thought, but he continued with the jack of diamonds overtaking with the king in his hand.  Next, he led a low club to dummy's jack.  Unless East had ducked the king, things were looking up for declarer.  He next led the ten of diamonds overtaking with the queen in his hand.  Another club went to dummy's queen and the last trump was drawn.  Declarer cashed the ace of clubs and was delighted to see the king drop.  Now he led the deuce of diamonds to the six in his hand and played the good ten of clubs pitching the spade from dummy.  He trumped his last spade in dummy for this eleventh trick.

It's true a very lucky 3NT contract would make with an overtrick but South was pleased with his result.
Copyright ©2009 Larry Matheny