IMPROVE YOUR PLAY

with Larry Matheny

Dreams can be pleasant or they can be nightmares. After an excellent dinner of lobster and perhaps too much wine, I finished reading one of Victor Mollo’s excellent books about his menagerie friends. I dozed off thinking how marvelous but unbelievable his stories were. But as I slept this hand appeared…

Scoring:  Matchpoints (Pairs)

#11-35
Dlr	W
Vul	E-W

	A86
	983
	43
	KQ984

	KJ94
	J752
	98
	1052

	10532
	106
	K76
	J763

	Q7
	AKQ4
	AQJ1052
	A

West	North	East	South
Pass	Pass	Pass	2
Pass	3	Pass	3
Pass	3	Pass	4
Pass	5	Pass	6
Pass	Pass	Pass

BIDDING: South was the local expert who considered it his duty to help the new players. North wasn’t sure what to bid over 3 but finally decided to show his ace of spades. Later North took a preference to diamonds and the expert confidently bid the slam.

PLAY: The novice in the West chair had no idea what to lead. He sat there for the longest time with perspiration falling from his forehead. Finally, the expert leaned over and with a smirk said “Just try the fourth one from your left thumb”. The expert smiled at his audience and a relieved West obliged by selecting that card. It was the king of spades and try as he might, the expert could no longer make the contract. The king of spades was the only lead to beat the contract.

I woke suddenly and wondered if perhaps Mr. Mollo had the same type of dreams. Or could it have been the lobster, or the wine, or…

Copyright ©2011 Larry Matheny