Improve Your Play #48

IMPROVE YOUR PLAY #48 with Larry Matheny

Competing over the opponents' 1NT opening bid can be dangerous but it is often advantageous to interrupt their auction. There are many popular conventions available to show different types of hands and you should discuss these with your partner. Of course, every now and then you have one that doesn't work quite so well. Take a look at this one.

Scoring: Matchpoints

Hand #48
Dlr	E
Vul	E-W

	K8752
	9
	Q87654
	6

	1043
	Q10853
	K
	Q1085

	AQJ6
	62
	AJ1032
	KJ

	9
	AKJ74
	9
	A97432

West	North	East	South
		1NT	2*
DBL	Pass	Pass	3
DBL	3	DBL	4
DBL	All Pass

* Hearts and a minor

BIDDING: East opened an off-shape 1NT and South was eager to show his two-suited hand. West could not believe his good fortune and made a penalty double. South was not concerned and cheerfully bid his second suit asking his partner to take a preference. Again West doubled and North had a difficult decision. He fell from grace by introducing his own six-card suit and East had an easy double. South finally retreated to his longer suit and 4

doubled became the final contract.

PLAY: West made the nice lead of the five of clubs and South could only manage five tricks for down five and -1100 points. South muttered, "At least we weren't vulnerable". North also muttered something under his breath. South really should compete with his hand, particularly at favorable vulnerability, but he just ran into a buzz saw. This hand is an argument against playing the "stolen bid" convention. Playing that convention, a double by West would say "he took my bid" which would be a transfer to spades. The penalty double is a valuable tool to give up.

Note that East-West do not have game and without interference, might have ended up playing 2