IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

There is no doubt having the right convention on your card can help with difficult bidding problems.  Here is a great example.

Scoring:  Matchpoints (Pairs)
 
Hand #41
Dlr   S
Vul E/W
S AJ75
H QJ83
D 2
C A532
S 986
H
D AQ1075
C J10984
    
S 104
H 972
D KJ964
C K76

S KQ32
H AK10654
D 83
C Q
West North
 East
 South



1H
    Pass     4D*     Pass     4NT
    Pass
     5H     Pass
     6H
All Pass


*Splinter bid

BIDDING:  South had no slam ambitions until he heard his partner leap to 4D.  Knowing North held game values with four hearts and a singleton or void in diamonds made the South hand look great.  After checking on aces, South bid the slam.
 
PLAY:  West led the ace of diamonds and South soon claimed the rest.  It's great to make a slam with a combined total of only 26 high card points.  Of course it's possible to bid the slam without the splinter bid but it would be difficult.  Holding a small doubleton in a side suit is often a danger sign.

Copyright ©2007 Larry Matheny.