Bid Naturally #08-12

IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

Some players try to use science or conventions when it is better to just bid their hand. Take a look at this one.

Scoring: Matchpoints (pairs)

Hand #12
Dlr	E
Vul	N/S

	5
	AKJ5
	AK10854
	72

	KQ1073
	10
	Q3
	J9843

	864
	98642
	J7
	Q106

	AJ92
	Q73
	962
	AK5

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

*Negative

BIDDING: South opened with his balanced minimum and West made a light overcall. North didn't want to lose the heart suit so he made a negative double. It's difficult to understand East's raise other than he just felt like bidding. South passed and North then cue bid the opponents' suit to ask for a stopper. South complied with 3NT.

PLAY: West led the king of spades asking attitude from his partner. East followed with his lowest card to deny an honor and declarer ducked. West then shifted to a small club won by declarer. When the opponents' diamonds divided 2-2, declarer had the rest of the tricks. Yes, he could have taken all thirteen tricks but the holdup play ensured eleven tricks in case East gained the lead with a diamond.

The problem is that this hand is cold for a grand slam in diamonds and the suit was never bid. Granted you don't want to bid seven on the strength of a 2-2 diamond break, but getting to the small diamond slam was certainly possible. Too many players make the mistake of making a negative double rather than bidding their suits naturally. Note that a 3

bid by North over 2