IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

 

The takeout double is a very valuable tool.  However, like most of the conventions available to you, it must be used with caution.  Here is a hand where that advice was ignored.

 

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)

#10-50

Dlr

N

Vul

N/S

S

A975

H

85

D

10653

C

973

S

6

H

A1062

D

AK84

C

KQJ2

  pad  

S

KQ10842

H

J943

D

7

C

108

 

S

J3

H

KQ7

D

QJ92

C

A654

West

North

East

South

  

  Pass

    2S

   DBL

  RDB

  Pass  

  Pass

    3C

    DBL      Pass     Pass      Pass

 

 

BIDDING:  This auction was just plain ugly!  South might make a takeout double with this hand at the one-level, but he certainly promised a better hand to force his partner to bid at the three-level.  West redoubled to show values and North could have tried to escape to diamonds but he hoped South might have a 5-card suit.  It was not to be.

 

PLAY:  West led the ace of diamonds and when it was over, South managed only four tricks and a score of -1400.   To really rub salt in the wound, no one bid and made game E/W.

 

Aggressive bidding will often payoff but it must be tempered with good judgment.

 

 

Copyright ©2010 Larry Matheny