IMPROVE YOUR PLAY

With Larry Matheny

 

Because of its frequent misuse, the great bidding theorist Alvin Roth often regretted having created the Unusual NT convention.  Its purpose is to show two-suited hands with one bid and, when used properly, it can be very effective.

 

Scoring:  Matchpoints (Pairs)

#14-08

Dlr

E

Vul

E/W

S

A10

H

Q

D

AJ986

C

AQJ104

S

 KJ6

H

 AKJ1074

D

 K1043

C

 

/images/pad.bmp

S

 98543

H

 62

D

 Q52

C

 975

 

S

Q72

H

9853

D

7

C 

K8632

 

 

  West

 North

East

South

 -      

-

 Pass

 Pass

   1H

 2NT

 Pass

 3C

     3H

    4C

   Pass

    5C

    Pass

   Pass

   Pass

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

   

       

   

Bidding:  North used the Unusual NT convention to show the minor suits.  His rebid of 4C showed extras and South realizing the potential of his singleton diamond and long trumps went on to game.

 

Play:  West led the ace of hearts and continued the suit.  Declarer ruffed in dummy and proceeded to establish dummy’s diamond suit.  He played the ace and another diamond ruffing in his hand.  Now a low club to dummy was followed by another diamond ruff.  He repeated this two more times and dummy’s jack of diamonds was established.  Now he led a spade to dummy’s ace and he had 11 tricks: 1 spade, 1 heart ruff, 2 diamonds, 3 diamond ruffs, and 4 clubs. 

 

Since so much information is given when the convention is used, there should be some expectation that you can either buy the contract or can push the opponents past their comfort level.  Too often it is used simply because one has a two-suited hand.

 

 

Copyright 2014