IMPROVE YOUR PLAY

With Larry Matheny

 

Many players make overalls that deserve to be punished.  It becomes extremely dangerous after an opponent has shown his strength by opening 1NT.

 

Scoring:  Matchpoints (Pairs)

#13-32

Dlr

N

Vul

none

S

K1098

H

 

D

KJ1072

C

J642

S

 AQJ7

H

 1073

D

 984

C

 1095

/images/pad.bmp

S

 532

H

 A9842

D

 AQ

C

 AQ7

 

S

64

H

KQJ65

D

653

C 

K83

 

 

West

 North

East

South

  -  

Pass

1NT

2H

  DBL

 Pass

 Pass

Pass

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

  

 

 

  

  

   

  

  

 

 

 

 

   

       

   

Bidding:  Holding a five-card major, East started to open 1H but was concerned about a rebid if partner responded 1S.  He was too strong to rebid 1NT so to avoid this problem, he simply opened 1NT.  South made a dangerous overcall and after West made a negative double, East had no problem passing and defending.

 

Play:  West led the 9 of diamonds to East’s queen.  Next, East led a low spade to his partner’s ace and a club was returned.  East won the ace followed by another spade.  Declarer scored the king of spades, the king of clubs, and three trump tricks for down three and -500.  This was a zero.

 

Lesson:  Two-level overcalls are dangerous.

 

 

Copyright ©2013 Larry Matheny