by
Jay Apfelbaum
The Bridge Student
by
Jay Apfelbaum
The May Hand
Board: 10
Dealer: East
Vul: Both
Form: Matchpoints
|
|
North |
|
|
Q 10 8 |
|
|
J 10 9 8 7 4 |
|
|
9 7 3 |
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
South |
|
|
A K J 9 6 4 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
A 4 |
|
|
10 8 6 2 |
|
West |
North |
East |
South |
|
--- |
--- |
1 |
1 |
|
Dbl. |
2 |
Pass |
3 |
|
Pass |
4 |
All Pass |
|
West leads a trump. Plan the play at IMPs and then matchpoints.
First, the play at IMPs. The opening lead is disappointing. On any other lead, it would be easy to make ten tricks. We could guarantee two club ruffs in dummy and be 100% certain of taking ten tricks. Now, if the opponents lead another trump after getting on lead, we will have only one trump left in dummy with which to ruff a club. The heart suit offers at least some chance of an extra trick. It must be right to win the trump lead in dummy and lead a heart at trick two.
West wins the heart lead and returns the 
10.
It is now a simple matter to lead a club to dummy and then ruff
hearts and clubs to get to ten tricks.
Now let us suppose we are playing matchpoints. There is another
possibility that could allow us to win eleven tricks. We win the A
and play a trump to dummy. Now lead a high heart. If East plays
another honor, we ruff and lead a trump to dummy. Now lead another
high heart and discard our losing diamond. West can win, but we will
have three winners in dummy to dispose of our losing clubs. That
comes to eleven tricks.
If East does not play a high heart on the second round of that suit, we will discard our losing diamond. Now, if the opposing trumps are 2-2 we are safe for ten tricks.
Even if West has a third trump, we are still safe for ten tricks provided West also started with four hearts. Considering Wests negative double, that is almost certain. West will win the second heart and play a club. We win in dummy and lead a third heart, discarding a club. West will win and force us to ruff a club. However, because West holds the third trump and another heart, we can safely cash a heart. That gives us six trump tricks, two aces, one ruff and one heart for ten tricks.
At matchpoints, the odds of getting eleven tricks are pretty good. In fact, without a trump lead we are so likely to make eleven tricks that we have to try for eleven tricks just to get a reasonable score.
Here is the complete hand:
|
|
|
|
North |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Q 10 8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
J 10 9 8 7 4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 7 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
West |
|
|
|
East |
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
7 3 2 |
|
|
Q 5 3 2 |
|
|
|
A K |
|
|
K J 5 2 |
|
|
|
Q 10 8 6 |
|
|
J 9 5 4 |
|
|
|
K Q 7 3 |
|
|
|
|
South |
|
|
|
|
|
|
A K J 9 6 4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
A 4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 8 6 2 |
|
|
And now it is time for next months hand. This is a bidding problem.
Board: 16
Dealer: West
Vul: East/West
Form: Matchpoints
|
|
South |
|
|
7 5 4 |
|
|
K Q |
|
|
Q 7 4 3 |
|
|
A 9 8 7 |
|
West |
North |
East |
South |
|
Pass |
1 |
Pass |
2NT |
|
Pass |
3 |
Pass |
? |
Your 2NT bid showed 11-12 high card points and a balanced hand. What do you bid and why? The answer next month. Those who want to express their opinion should contact the webmaster. I will try to mention all those who take the time to give me a thoughtful answer.
