IMPROVE YOUR PLAY

with Larry Matheny

Far too often bridge players don’t take the form of scoring into consideration when planning their line of play or defense. In this example, one of the declarers put a possible overtrick ahead of ensuring the safety of his game contract.

Scoring: IMPs (Teams)

#12-17
Dlr	N
Vul	N/S

	KQJ62
	K74
	QJ5
	106

	984
	Q96
	9842
	J43

	A83
	103
	1076
	KQ952

	107
	AJ852
	AK3
	A87

West	North	East	South
	1	Pass	2
Pass	3	Pass	4
Pass	4	Pass	Pass
Pass

BIDDING: South cue bid clubs to suggest slam but North said game was high enough.

Play: West led a low club won by declarer with the ace. Declarer didn’t give this hand much thought because he saw only three losers: 1 spade, 1 club, and assuming the hearts behaved only one trump trick. He led a second club and won the diamond shift with the ace. Next he ruffed his last club followed by the king of hearts and a low heart to the jack. West won the queen and shifted to the nine of spades. East won and put a fourth round of clubs on the table the suddenly West’s nine of hearts had been promoted to a winner. Declarer struggled but finally admitted defeat.

At the other table in this team game, declarer didn’t take any chances. After ruffing the third club in dummy, he led a heart to the ace followed by another to dummy’s king. He only lost the three obvious tricks and made his game. The +100 and +620 meant a 12 IMP swing.

Copyright ©2012 Larry Matheny