IMPROVE YOUR PLAY

With Larry Matheny

I don’t know the statistics, but many contracts are lost due to hasty play to trick one. Take a look at how various declarers played this hand.

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)

#14-07
Dlr	E
Vul	none

	AJ64
	AK
	Q63
	KQJ5

	K73
	653
	984
	10732

	1095
	10942
	A52
	964

	Q82
	QJ87
	KJ107
	A8

West	North	East	South
-	-	Pass	1
Pass	1	Pass	1NT
Pass	6NT	Pass	Pass
Pass

Bidding: After their partner opened the bidding, the North players loved their hand and a small slam was reached at most tables.

Play: West led a low club and the South players were able to count 12 easy tricks: 1 spade, 4 hearts, 3 diamonds, and 4 clubs. The intermediate level declarers quickly played low from dummy and won the ace in their hand. Their next task was to knock out the ace of diamonds. However, East held up to the third round and exited with a heart. These declarers were now locked in dummy with no way to get to their hand and had to admit defeat.

The advanced level declarers took a little more time and saw the limited entry situation. They won the first club in dummy and then started the diamonds. But, after winning the third diamond, East exited with a club and once again there was no way to succeed.

The expert declarers gave the hand even more thought and came up with the winning line. They won the first trick in dummy, unblocked the AK of hearts, and only then did they lead diamonds.

Copyright 2014