IMPROVE YOUR PLAY

with Larry Matheny

A good declarer will avoid unnecessary finesses and will also try to make the opponents lead a suit for him.

Scoring: IMPs (Teams)

#12-25
Dlr	N
Vul	none

	Q1074
	Q10643
	6
	J32

	65
	75
	QJ9874
	A96

	AJ983
	K
	K103
	K1074

	K2
	AJ982
	A52
	Q85

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

BIDDING: South didn’t like making a two-level overcall on a five-card suit but felt it was his best choice. North jumped to game to close the auction.

Play: West led the six of spades, East followed with the eight, and declarer won the king. Declarer saw he had a spade to lose along with four other possible losers: the king of hearts and three clubs. At trick two, declarer played the ace of diamonds and then trumped a diamond in dummy. The queen of hearts found the king on side so declarer now only had to worry about the club suit. He saw the answer…he ruffed his last diamond in dummy followed by a heart to the jack drawing the last trump. Next he led a low spade to dummy’s seven and East was end-played. A spade return would establish a trick for declarer and if he instead led a club, declarer would win the third round.

Those declarers who played clubs themselves hoping East held both top honors were disappointed.

Copyright ©2012 Larry Matheny