Improve Your Play #15

IMPROVE YOUR PLAY #15 with Larry Matheny

To be successful at the bridge table, complete concentration is essential. Obviously it is vital to keep your emotions in check but sometimes that can be difficult. Take a look at this hand.

East-West vulnerable at matchpoints.

Hand #15
Dlr	N
Vul	E-W

	A65
	A873

	AK9843

	K10943
	109
	Q98432

	Q8
	J42
	AJ107
	J765

	J72
	KQ65
	K65
	Q102

West	North	East	South
	1	Pass	1
Pass	4	Pass	4
Pass	4	Pass	6
Pass	7	All Pass

BIDDING: Our opponents had just overbid to a slam and brought it home on two finesses. If that wasn't bad enough, East was gloating. As we started on the second hand of three I could tell my partner sitting North was very angry. His splinter bid of 4

showed a big hand with diamond shortness and heart support. I realized my diamond king was very likely worthless so I signed off in 4

. Still agitated, my partner next cue bid 4

. I knew he must have great hand with a good club suit so I jumped to the slam. However, my partner was not done and gave East a dirty look as he carried on to the grand slam.

PLAY: The ten of heart was led and I could only count eleven tricks: 1 spade, 4 hearts, and 6 clubs. I had to assume the trumps were 3-2 and my only other source of tricks would be diamond ruffs in dummy. The problem was lack of entries to my hand. My only choice was to use the club suit so I won the heart lead in dummy and played another to my hand. It appeared West was now out of hearts. I ruffed a diamond in dummy followed by a club toward my hand. I stuck in the ten and closed my eyes. I won the trick as West showed out. I then ruffed another diamond and came back to my hand with the club queen to draw the last trump.

Now it was on to the third hand and East was very angry...

Copyright ©2007 Larry Matheny.