IMPROVE YOUR PLAY

With Larry Matheny

 

Some hands are won by good declarer play or strong defense.  Others are won by good bidding.  This N/S pair had just the right conventions to find a grand slam missed my most other pairs.

 

Scoring:  Matchpoints (Pairs)

#13-07

Dlr

E

Vul

E/W

S

AK75

H

8643

D

5

C

K1085

S

 83

H

 K105

D

 Q9642

C

 763

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S

 9

H

 QJ972

D

 K83

C

 QJ42

 

S

QJ10642

H

A

D

AJ107

C 

A9

West

 North

East

South

 -   

-

Pass

1S

 Pass

  4D

 Pass     

4NT

   Pass

    5H

   Pass

   5NT

   Pass

    6C

   Pass

    7S

   Pass

   Pass

   Pass

   

  

   

  

  

 

 

 

 

   

    

   

Bidding:  North’s jump in diamonds was a Splinter bid showing 10-12 high card points, 4+spades, and diamond shortness.  South’s 4NT asked about keycards (4 aces + king of spades) and North admitted to holding two.  5NT asked about kings and North showed the king of clubs.  South confidently bid the grand slam.

 

Play:  West led the three of spades that South won in his hand.  Declarer only had to ruff one diamond low in dummy and two diamonds with the ace and king of trumps for his 13 tricks.  Most N/S pairs stopped in game or a small slam. 

 

 


Copyright ©2013 Larry Matheny