IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

If you're going to sacrifice, it usually pays to do it early.  This hand is a good example.

Scoring:  Matchpoints  (Pairs)
 
Hand #27
Dlr   S
Vul E/W
S 98653
H 108543
D 1085
C
S A104
H J
D Q73
C KQJ854
    
S KQJ7
H KQ
D A9
C 109762

S 2
H A9862
D KJ642
C A3
West North
 East
 South



1H
    2C     5H     6C All Pass

BIDDING:  The auction started calmly enough but then North leaped to 5H.  He saw the favorable vulnerability and wanted to make E-W guess at the five level.  Sure enough, East held such a good hand he took the plunge.  South thought about doubling but it wasn't certain they could beat the small slam.

PLAY:  North led a heart and the contract was soon down one.  West can discard a diamond on the fourth spade and another on dummy's heart honor.  It takes a diamond lead to beat it two tricks.  North's bid paid off because if East doubles instead of bidding the slam, N-S are only down two for -300.  That beats all of the E-W pairs who bid and make 5C. 

If North had only bid 4H, East still might have bid six but would probably stop at five.  When you're going to preempt, make the opponents guess at the highest level you're willing to bid and do it immediately.

Copyright ©2007 Larry Matheny.