IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

 

 

While it true most players would be better off if they concentrated on their defense and declarer play, there is a fascination with bidding conventions.  Here is a hand where a pair needed a convention that is used by most players.

 

 

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)

#10-37

Dlr

W

Vul

E/W

S

K7

H

AKJ

D

Q84

C

AKJ94

S

1098

H

103

D

J953

C

7653

  pad  

S

AQJ32

H

852

D

1076

C

Q8

 

S

654

H

Q9764

D

AK2

C

102

West

North

East

South

   Pass

   2NT

   Pass

    3H

   Pass

    4H

   Pass

   Pass

    Pass   

   

 

 

 

BIDDING:  This N-S pair liked old fashioned bidding and sneered at all of the “scientists” who had very complicated auctions.  North opened 2NT and South bid his five-card major and game was quickly reached.

 

PLAY:  West led the ten of spades and East won the first two tricks but declarer soon had the rest.  When the traveling scorecard was opened, N-S were upset that every other pair took all thirteen tricks.  The other pairs employed Jacoby Transfer bids and North became declarer.  Reluctant to lead their ace, the East players usually selected a red card for the opening lead.  North had to simply draw trumps and then play the ace-king of clubs.  When the queen dropped it was easy to discard South’s three losing spades on the good clubs.

 

Oswald Jacoby popularized the transfer bid back in 1956 and it is used by most players.  This hand demonstrates the advantage of protecting the big hand from the opening lead. 

 

 

 

Copyright ©2010 Larry Matheny