IMPROVE YOUR PLAY

with Larry Matheny

It is essential to use proper tempo when defending a hand. A long hesitation can give away valuable information and playing too quickly can cost a trick. Finding this tempo comes with experience and new players sometimes have to learn the hard way.

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)

#12-23
Dlr	N
Vul	none

	J3
	Q752
	K52
	AJ98

	A762
	6
	QJ8763
	107

	94
	KJ9
	A109
	K6543

	KQ1085
	A10843
	4
	Q2

West	North	East	South
	Pass	Pass	1
Pass	1NT	Pass	2
Pass	3	Pass	4
Pass	Pass	Pass

BIDDING: I was sitting South and took a rosy view of the hand. Or better said, I simply overbid.

Play: West led the ten of clubs and I could see a likely loser in each suit. In fact, I would have to have some luck in the heart suit to keep my losers there to one. After quickly assessing the situation I saw that East was a new player and might fall for an old trick. I won the ace of clubs and dropped my queen. I then called for the eight of clubs, and as I had hoped, East ducked and the eight won the trick. I had eliminated one loser so I now turned by attention to the trump suit. If the outstanding trumps were 4-0, I would lose two tricks and if they were 2-2, I would lose only one trick. If they were 3-1, I would have to read it correctly. I led a low heart from dummy and East hesitated for just a moment before contributing the nine. If he held KJ9 I needed to play the 10 but if it was the singleton 9, I needed to rise with the ace and lead another toward the queen. Since he had length in the club suit my natural reaction would be to play him for shortness in the heart suit, but his hesitation did him in. I played the ten and wrapped up the game losing only 1 spade, 1 heart, and 1 diamond.

I won a few matchpoints and East took away some experience.

Copyright ©2012 Larry Matheny