IMPROVE YOUR PLAY

With Larry Matheny

 

The promotion of a lower spot into a winner is a play often overlooked.  In this hand the nine was the hero for the defense.

 

Scoring:  IMPs (Teams)

#13-25

Dlr

E

Vul

None

S

54

H

AQ102

D

AK1052

C

72

S

 AQ82

H

 J

D

 97643

C

 1093

/images/pad.bmp

S

 7

H

 K97

D

 QJ8

C

 QJ8654

 

S

KJ10963

H

86543

D

 

C 

AK

West

 North

East

South

  -  

 -

 Pass

1S

 Pass

2D

 Pass

2H

   Pass

    4H

   Pass

  Pass

   Pass

 

 

   

  

 

 

  

 

   

  

  

 

 

 

 

   

       

   

 

Bidding:   North-South had a routine auction to game.

 

Play:  West led the ten of clubs to declarer’s ace.  Next, declarer led a heart to the jack, queen, and king.  East made the obvious shift to his singleton spade and West won the queen and ace.  A third spade promoted East’s nine of heart into the setting trick.  

 

Notice it will not help declarer to play ace and queen of hearts instead of finessing.  East will win the king and the nine of heart will again be promoted.  The same contract and result was achieved at the other table.

 

 

Copyright ©2013 Larry Matheny