IMPROVE YOUR PLAY

with Larry Matheny

The typical convention card lists many different agreements. Some of these conventions come up very rarely but when they do, they can be very useful.

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)

#11-52
Dlr	E
Vul	E/W

	AKQ106
	AQ5
	A10753

	J954
	J63
	9
	Q8543

	832
	1094
	6
	AKJ1096

	7
	K872
	KQJ842
	72

West	North	East	South
		Pass	2
Pass	2NT	Pass	3
Pass	5	Pass	5
Pass	7	Pass	Pass
Pass

BIDDING: North started thinking slam as soon as he saw South’s opening bid. North used 2NT to ask about outside controls and South showed a heart honor. Knowing this was the king, North was now thinking grand slam. The jump to 5 was Exclusion Keycard Blackwood asking South how many keycards (4 aces + trump king) he held OUTSIDE of clubs. South admitted to one (the diamond king) and North confidently bid the grand slam.

PLAY: West led a trump and South quickly claimed all thirteen tricks. Most N/S pairs stopped in 6 but this N/S pair had the tools to reach the grand slam. Note that simple Blackwood or Roman Keycard would not help because North could not be certain which ace or keycard was missing.

Some partnerships refuse to open a weak-2 bid when holding four cards in an outside major suit. Obviously this hand is an argument for exceptions to that rule.

Copyright ©2011 Larry Matheny