IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

 

There is no doubt the matchpoint scoring system employed in pairs events should influence your play of the hand.  This hand demonstrates that simple lesson.

 

 

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)

#10-45

Dlr

W

Vul

E/W

S

4

H

987

D

K853

C

K10832

S

Q9872

H

42

D

Q742

C

A5

  pad  

S

K10653

H

QJ106

D

6

C

976

 

S

AJ

H

AK53

D

AJ109

C

QJ4

West

North

East

South

  Pass

   Pass

 Pass

  2NT

  Pass

   3NT       

 Pass

  Pass

   Pass                

 

  

 

 

BIDDING:  North-South had a routine auction to game.

 

PLAY:  West led his fourth best spade and declarer quickly saw he had no way to bring home nine tricks.  So he won the first spade and led clubs.  West won and the defense soon had five tricks to defeat the contract.  Why is this hand of interest?  Because several of the South players tried taking a diamond finesse or playing for the remaining hearts to divide 3-3.  Those declarers went down two and sometimes three tricks.  The scoring at matchpoints rewards the best plus scores and also the smallest minus scores.  When your contract has no hope, minimize your loss.

 

 

Copyright ©2010 Larry Matheny