Hand of the Week #29

From last Friday's game, a simple lesson in searching for overtricks to improve your matchpoint result. These were the North-South hands:

	A 8 2 9 7 3 3 2 A Q J 8 4
	K A T 8 2 A J 7 K T 9 7 3

A typical uncontested auction in Standard American is 1 - 3; 3 - 3; 3NT. The 3 is a limit raise showing a 10-12 point hand in support of clubs. South's rebid of 3 is designed to elicit information about a spade stopper for 3NT. North will rebid 3NT if he has both spades and diamonds stopped; 3 (as shown here) with only spades stopped; and return to clubs otherwise.

If you reached a notrump contract rather than getting stuck in clubs, you've already guaranteed yourself at least an average board. On any lead you can cash nine fast winners and make your contract. Ask yourself if you can do better than that.

At my table, the opening lead was the 5, with East playing the Q. If you had Axx in diamonds it would be normal to hold up to the third round; but here, your jack is a second stopper as long as you only let West, not East, into the lead. Win the first trick, cross to the table with a club, and lead a heart toward your hand. If East pops up with a face card, you'll have to win, but if East plays "second hand low", duck this trick to West, and give him a chance to plug away at diamonds and set up your jack. He almost certainly will.

The full hand:

Dealer South Both vul	A 8 2 9 7 3 3 2 A Q J 8 4
J T 7 3 Q 5 4 K 9 6 5 4 5		A 9 6 5 4 K J 6 Q T 8 6 2
	K A T 8 2 A J 7 K T 9 7 3

A spade lead works out better -- but almost every West is going to opt for a diamond.

At the club Friday night, 3NT made five (on misdefence), four, and three; two pairs were in 3 making four, and one pair went down in the impossible 5. Back to HOTW index
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