IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

Playing with a new partner can be difficult.  There are always so many things you need to discuss but don't think about until the game has begun.  This hand was the first one in a session with a new partner.

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)
Hand #40
Dlr   S
Vul N/S
S
H AKJ1072
D Q
C A76542
S QJ874
H Q93
D J1062
C 9
    
S K1052
H 86
D K8543
C QJ

S A963
H 54
D A97
C K1083
West North
 East
 South



1C
   Pass
    1H    Pass
     1S
   Pass
     2D*    Pass
    2NT
   Pass
     6C    Pass
    Pass
   Pass


                                                                          *Artificial game force
                                                                                            
BIDDING:  I was North and after my partner opened the bidding I was thinking slam.  We had some basic agreements but didn't get into much detail and this was our first hand.  I used the Fourth Suit Forcing convention and when he rebid 2NT to show a minimum balanced hand, I wasn't sure how to continue.  Finally, I just bid the small slam and hoped for the best.  I'm not sure but I think at that point he might have wondered what he was in for the rest of the afternoon. 

PLAY:  West led a diamond and my partner had no trouble taking all of the tricks.  He won the diamond, drew trumps, and set up dummy's heart suit.  Since seven clubs was cold (and also seven hearts and seven notrump with the heart finesse), I felt perhaps I should have made a better effort of looking for the grand.  However, most pairs had the same problem and stopped in a heart game, so our result was worth 33 of 38 matchpoints. 

Many players did not open the South hand.  My partner informed me that he opens all eleven point hands if he has at least 2 1/2 quick tricks.  I filed that away for future auctions.

Copyright ©2009 Larry Matheny