IMPROVE YOUR PLAY

With Larry Matheny

Before making an opening lead it is always right to review the auction. However, some defenders interpret the information better than others.

Scoring: IMPs (Teams)

#13-14
Dlr	E
Vul	E/W

	J1083
	864
	AKQ83
	K

	4
	A103
	1097642
	643

	76
	KJ72
	5
	J109852

	AKQ952
	Q95
	J
	AQ7

West	North	East	South
-	-	Pass	1
Pass	2	Pass	2
Pass	3	Pass	4
Pass	4	Pass	5
Pass	Pass	Pass

Bidding: North’s 2 was game forcing. After North agreed spades, South made a club cue bid and North cooperated with a diamond cue bid. South jumped in spades to ask if North held a heart control. North’s holding was a dreadful three small so she quickly passed.

Play: Now it was up to West to find the right lead. The auction begged for a heart lead so he put the ace on the table. East encouraged with the seven and soon won the second heart trick. But, that was all for the defense as declarer quickly claimed the rest.

A more thoughtful West might have realized that since both opponents denied holding a first or second round heart control, a low heart could not hurt. As we can see a low heart to East’s king followed by a heart back through the queen would defeat the contract.

Copyright ©2013 Larry Matheny