Simple Math #11-09

IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

It is remarkable how many contracts succeed simply because a defender will not count to thirteen. Here is a case in point.

Scoring: IMPs (Teams)

#11-09
Dlr	E
Vul	N/S

	AK84
	1087
	42
	A982

	109
	J42
	QJ1073
	Q74

	J5
	AKQ65
	K965
	63

	Q7632
	93
	A8
	KJ105

West	North	East	South
		1	1
Pass	4	Pass	Pass

Pass

BIDDING: South made a simple one-level overcall and North jumped to game. As he tabled his hand, North remarked that in a team event he did not want to miss a vulnerable game. South made a mental note to make sure all of his future overcalls were sound.

PLAY: West led a low heart to his partner’s queen. On the ace of hearts continuation, West followed with the jack suggesting a card in diamonds, the higher side suit. East switched to a low diamond and declarer won the ace. Declarer had lost two hearts and had a diamond to lose so he had to guess the location of the queen of clubs. Rather than guess, he tried to let the opponents find it for him. After winning the ace of diamonds, declarer drew trumps and then played his other diamond. East won with the nine and afraid to give a ruff-sluff, switched to a club. Declarer now made his game without a club guess.

There was no need for East to panic. He knew declarer had five spades and two hearts so if he held only two diamonds, he must have four clubs and a ruff-sluff would be of no value. East should simply exit with a red card and make South guess the club queen. This was no more difficult than counting to thirteen.