Those extra chances

Its always a pleasure to watch Dave Berkowitz play the dummy. Smooth as silk is one phrase that comes to mind -- and it was certainly appropriate on this deal. Dave was playing with his wife, Lisa.

N/S Vul. Dealer West.

S Q4
H JT5
D 87654
C KQ7
S J76 S AKT8532
H K6 H 8743
D A932 D
C AJ53 C 84

S 9
H AQ92
D KQJT
C T962

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
Lisa Dave
1D (1) Pass 1S Pass
1NT Pass 4S All Pass

(1) Precision: could be short.
The 1NT rebid showed 13-15.

South led the DK. Berkowitz played low from dummy, ruffing in hand. At trick two, he led a low heart. South went up with the ace and returned the S9. Berkowitz played low from dummy and won the S10 when North played low. Next came a club to dummys ace, the DA for a club pitch, followed by a club ruff. The CQ came up on the second round of the suit, so Berkowitz played a heart to dummys king, followed by another low club off dummy. When the CK appeared, Berkowitz ruffed with the SK and claimed for plus 480.
To Berkowitz, the play was routine -- giving himself the extra chance of finding CKQ x in one hand. Had he tried to ruff two hearts in dummy, Berkowitz would have been overruffed and would have made only 11 tricks. He was shocked to find that plus 480 was worth 81 out of 89 matchpoints.

The right card

You are South and you pick up:

S J 8
H 10 8
D Q 10 7
C J 10 8 7 2
This is the auction:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
1S Dbl Pass
2H Pass 4H All Pass

Partner leads the SK and you see this dummy:

S 6 3
H A K Q 4
D A 8
C A Q 9 6 3

Partner cashes the ace and switches to the D7. Declarer considers his play for some time, but finally rises with the ace. Next he plays the CA and ruffs a club, partner following with the C5 and CK.
Declarer takes even longer to play his next card, but finally he tables the S10, partner following low, and discards dummys diamond as you ruff. It seems evident that West has overbid and your chances of defeating the contract are good. Keeping in mind that you are playing matchpoints, can you do better than down one?

Solution

A club return is correct, but it must be the CJ or C10. If you return your low club, declarer will simply pitch and partner will be forced to ruff. If you return either of your club honors, partner will have the option of ruffing or discarding. On this occasion, he will (or should) discard. Declarer will win the CQ, but if he pulls trumps he will lose the last two club tricks, and if he tries to ruff another club, partner can overruff and assure down two.
The complete deal:

Love All. Dealer North.

S J8
H T8
D KJ94
C JT872
S 63 S QT75
H AKQ4 H 9632
D A8 D 6532
C AQ963 C 4

S AK942
H J75
D QT7
C K5

If you returned the C8, you get 41 out of 89 matchpoints. If you play a club honor and partnercooperates by declining to ruff, your reward is 71.5 matchpoints.