I Only Had 5 Points #07-21

IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

Hand evaluation is often difficult. The auction will usually be your best gauge to understand the importance of your honor cards and your distribution. This hand offers a good example.

Scoring: IMPs (Teams)

Hand #21
Dlr	W
Vul	N/S

	KQ1072
	AJ10752
	Q
	4

	AJ3
	983
	A752
	AQ3

	85
	64
	KJ10986
	KJ2

	964
	KQ
	43
	1098765

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

*Majors or minors

BIDDING: There are many conventions to use over the opponents' opening 1NT. This North-South partnership uses a double to show either the majors or the minors. After East redoubled to suggest his side had the balance of power, South ran to 2

hoping North held the minor suits. But, North followed with 2

showing the majors so South took a preference to 2

. He was expecting the opponents to double but instead heard his partner raise. South looked at this weak hand and started to pass but stopped to reflect on the auction. After hearing the 1NT opening and East showing strength, North still was inviting game. South knew that his partner must hold a really strong major two-suiter and quickly realized the importance of the king-queen of hearts. He accepted the invitation but was very nervous and eager to see the dummy.

PLAY: West won the two minor suit aces and continued with another diamond. South ruffed this in dummy and played a heart to his hand. He then lead a spade to dummy's king followed by another heart to his hand. A second spade toward dummy was won by West. He forced dummy to ruff another minor suit card after which South drew the last trump and made his contract.

This hand was well bid by North. He knew the dangers in missing a vulnerable game at this form of scoring. At the other table, North-South stopped in 3