IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

 

Reaching a minor suit slam is often difficult.  This is particularly true in matchpoint events where a minor suit game rarely results in a good score.  This natural reluctance to bid past 3NT was overcome by this pair. 

 

 

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)

Hand#33

Dlr

E

Vul

E/W

S

AKJ1032

H

82

D

QJ5

C

J8

S

864

H

J107

D

76

C

Q7654

  pad  

S

Q75

H

AQ93

D

843

C

1093

 

S

9

H

K654

D

AK1092

C

AK2

West

North

East

South

  

    

    Pass

    1D

   Pass

    1S

    Pass

    2H

   Pass 

    3S

   Pass

   3NT

    Pass         4D          Pass       6D

    Pass       Pass         Pass

 

 

BIDDING:  East’s 2H bid was a reverse showing 17+ high card points.  Next, North jumped in spades to show a good suit and suggest slam.  With no fit, South retreated to 3NT but North’s diamond raise convinced South to bid the small slam.

 

PLAY:   West led the jack of hearts to his partner’s ace.  East returned a trump won by the nine.  Declarer decided to establish dummy’s spade suit so he lead a spade to the ace.  He continued with the king and a low spade ruffed high.  It was now easy to lead a third trump to dummy and discard his three losers on the good spades.

 

This hand was won by the auction.  Most pairs played in either 3NT with ten tricks or in 4S winning eleven tricks.

 

 

Copyright ©2010 Larry Matheny