Improve Your Play
Know When to Stop
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By Larry Matheny
Fort Collins, Colorado
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We all enjoy holding strong hands, but it’s important to know when to stop bidding. After giving partner a good description of your hand, it’s up to him. That is, if you trust your partner.
North
â™ AK1087
♥KJ3
♦KQ
♣KQ6
West East
â™ Q93 â™ J52
♥AQ8 ♥9642
♦A85 ♦104
♣J732 ♣A1054
South
â™ 64
♥1075
♦J97632
♣98
South West North East
Pass 1♣ Dbl Pass
1♦ Pass 2NT Pass
3♦ Pass Pass Pass
Contract: 3♦
Opening Lead: ♣2
The jump rebid by North of 2NT showed 21-22 high card points. South rebid his long diamonds to show a very weak hand and North reluctantly passed.
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Play
The lead by West of the ♣2 went to dummy’s king and East’s ace. East returned a trump to the West’s ♦A and West led a second round of clubs to dummy’s ♣Q. Next, declarer cashed the ♦Q followed by three rounds of spades, ruffing in his hand with the nine. Then he drew the last trump followed by a low heart. West won the ♥A and declarer claimed the remaining tricks. Declarer lost only three aces for a score of +130.
Most of the North/South pairs were going down in spade or notrump contracts.
It was difficult to stop short of game with the North cards, but it was time to trust partner.