IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

As declarer, it makes sense to combine your chances.  Here is a hand where declarer had three choices and only one would succeed.

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)
Hand #47
Dlr   N
Vul N/S
S 42
H Q954
D AQJ108
C A10
S K9
H J872
D 32
C 98764
    
S 76
H AK10
D 9754
C KJ52

S AQJ10853
H 63
D K6
C Q3
West North
 East
 South

1D Pass
 1S
   Pass    1NT
    Pass
     4S
   Pass    Pass
    Pass
    
                                                                        
BIDDING:  The bidding was straight forward and the spade game was reached.

PLAY:  West wasn't certain what to lead but finally placed the nine of clubs on the table.  This was the only lead to give declarer a problem.  If any other suit had been led, South's losing club could eventually be discarded on dummy's good diamonds.  But now looking at four possible losers (1 spade, 2 hearts, and 1 club), declarer had to decide how to continue.  He could duck the club and hope West had underled the king, but he knew his left hand opponent and was confident that wouldn't work.  He could take the spade finesse and if that succeeded he was fine.  Or, he could hope the diamonds would break 3-3 and play three rounds to discard his club loser.  He finally decided to combine his chances.  He won the ace of clubs, led a spade to the ace, and then played on diamonds.  They did not divide 3-3 but West had to ruff with the king of spades as declarer discarded his club. 

Copyright ©2009 Larry Matheny