IMPROVE YOUR PLAY #7 with Larry Matheny


Defense is perhaps the most difficult part of bridge.  Each card you play should convey some information to your partner.  If you are not careful, you may allow declarer to take tricks that should be yours.  See how you would have done with this hand.


East-West vulnerable at matchpoints.

Hand #7
Dlr S
Vul E-W
S 10743
H J97
D K104
C J106
S 95
H 5
D QJ9852
C Q842
            
S Q2
H A1062
D 763
C A975

S AKJ76
H KQ843
D A
C K3
West North
 East
 South



  1S
  Pass
   3S   Pass
   4S
(all pass)



BIDDING:  The South hand is close to a 2C opener, but it is usually easier to show a two-suiter by opening at the one level.  This partnership plays a jump to 3S by North as a weak hand containing four spades.  Holding such a good hand, South was disappointed but settled for game.

PLAY:  I was sitting West and chose my singleton heart for the opening lead.  South was still in love with his hand and told the table he had hoped for slam.  My partner won the heart ace and returned the deuce of hearts for me to ruff.  This was a SUIT PREFERENCE situation and the deuce was a request for me to return the lower remaining suit.  If my partner had wanted a diamond returned, he would have led the heart ten, and with no preference, he would have chosen his middle heart.  East won my club return and promptly gave me another heart ruff to defeat the contract.  North was very polite to his partner merely asking, "Slam?". 

The opportunities to show suit preference are numerous.  Remember every card you play has a meaning.

Copyright ©2007 Larry Matheny.