IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny


When playing in a team event, it's usually right to be aggressive when bidding vulnerable games.  But, in a pairs event with matchpoint scoring, a plus score should be your target.  Here is a hand when many pairs didn't stop soon enough.

Scoring:  Matchpoints (Pairs Game)
Hand #11
Dlr   W
Vul N/S
S KQ3
H 1086
D KJ108
C A64
S 8762
H QJ95
D A76
C Q2
    
S A104
H 7
D Q94
C J98753

S J95
H AK432
D 532
C K10
West North
 East
 South
Pass
 1D Pass
 1H
   Pass    1NT
    Pass
     2C*
   Pass
     2H    Pass
    Pass
   Pass
    
   
                                                                         *New Minor Forcing
                                                                  
BIDDING:  After North rebid 1NT to show a balanced 12-14 point hand, South's hand was good enough to invite game.  His 2C bid was the New Minor Forcing convention used here to uncover a possible heart fit.  North showed the fit but also indicated his hand was a minimum.  Since South was inviting game, North would have jumped in hearts to show a better hand.  That ended South's hope for game and he reluctantly passed.

PLAY:  West led a spade and the defense had no trouble collecting 1 spade, 2 hearts, and 2 diamonds.  What is interesting about this hand is that in a local game, +110 was worth ALL of the matchpoints.  Every other pair reached either the three or four level and were defeated.  Of course it's unlucky that the trump suit divided 4-1 but still you need to have the bidding tools that will allow you to stay out of marginal games at this form of scoring.

Copyright ©2009 Larry Matheny.