IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

Many people become confused during the auction and think that points and tricks are the same.  Unfortunately, sometimes holding a lot of high card points does not mean you have a lot of defensive tricks.

Scoring:  Matchpoints (pairs)

Hand #48
Dlr   E
Vul E/W
S K1073
H K873
D 3
C KJ75
S QJ
H AQ42
D AKJ2
C Q62
    
S 9
H 10965
D 1094
C 109843

S A86542
H J
D Q8765
C A
West North
 East
 South


Pass
 1S
  DBL
   2NT*
    Pass     4S
  DBL All Pass
   

*Limit or better spade raise

BIDDING:  South only held eleven high card points but his 6-5 distribution made this an opening hand.  West had a very nice hand and started with a takeout double.  North's 2NT bid showed a limit raise or better in spades.  This convention allows the partnership to use a jump to 3S over a takeout double as preemptive.  South really liked his hand opposite four or more trumps so he bid the game.  West couldn't stand it and doubled again.  Poor East decided that bidding his long suit at the five level would be suicidal so he passed.

PLAY:  West led a high diamond, cashed the ace of hearts, and switched to a trump.  Declarer had no trouble winning the rest of the tricks.  He was able to ruff two diamonds in dummy, discard one of the heart King, and another on the club Jack after the Queen was ruffed out.  Making an overtrick was worth +690 and all of the matchpoints.  As he left the table West said to his partner "But I had nineteen points".

Copyright ©2007 Larry Matheny.     stats