IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

It only makes sense that you should have a goal or a purpose when you make a bid.  You may want to declare, to preempt or impede the opponents, or make a lead directing call.  However, that bid can come around and bite you if it was made for no reason.

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)
Hand #41
Dlr   E
Vul N/S
S K10964
H AJ10
D 10765
C 6
S 32
H Q7652
D QJ8
C K74
    
S J87
H K94
D 4
C A108532

S AQ5
H 83
D AK932
C QJ9
West North
 East
 South


Pass
 1NT
   Pass
    2H*    3C     3S
   Pass
     4S    Pass
    Pass
   Pass
       
  
                                                                          *Transfer
                                                                                            
BIDDING:  I was South and reached game after my partner showed his spade suit by a transfer bid.  After first passing, East entered the auction with an overcall that seemed to accomplish very little.  As you will see, that little turned out to be a lot.

PLAY:  West obediently led his partner's suit.  East won the ace and then led a low diamond.  Unless the diamonds were extremely cruel to me, I expected no trouble making the game so I started looking for those valuable overtricks.  I won the ace of diamonds and drew two rounds of trumps in my hand.  Next, I led the queen of clubs and pitched a heart from dummy when West played low.  I then led a trump to dummy followed by the ten of diamonds.  East discarded a club and West won the jack.  I won the heart shift and claimed eleven tricks.  I stated I would run the diamonds and discard dummy's last heart.  I ended up with 5 spades, 1 heart, 4 diamonds, and 1 club. 

In a local game, making five was the top result.  Most N/S pairs had to settle for ten tricks after a heart lead. 

Copyright ©2009 Larry Matheny