Playing with a Novice #12-34

IMPROVE YOUR PLAY

with Larry Matheny

I feel experienced players should not only provide encouragement for new players, they should also take the opportunity to play with them. Of course there can be tense moments when you’re not sure if your new partner has the same understanding.

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)

Hand #12-34
Dlr	E
Vul	None

	1052
	10987
	J652
	64

	J3
	QJ2
	1098
	J8752

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	87
	AK54
	K73
	AK109

	AKQ964
	63
	AQ4
	Q3

West	North	East	South
		1NT	2
Pass	Pass	DBL	Pass
3	Pass	Pass	3
Pass	Pass	Pass

BIDDING: Playing with an inexperienced partner I opened a standard 1NT in the East chair. My left hand opponent thought for a moment and then bid 2. My partner and right hand opponent passed and I inquired to confirm 2 was a natural bid. It seemed wrong to pass, but if I reopened with a double, I wasn’t sure my novice partner would recognize it as a takeout bid. I chanced it and after West passed, my partner bid 3. I was delighted to pass this and South closed the auction with a 3 bid.

PLAY: It is usually wrong to allow the opponents to play at the two-level when they have a fit and this hand was no exception. We took two hearts, one diamond, and two clubs to defeat the contract by one trick. We would have made 3 losing only four tricks so South made the right decision. Those who allowed N/S to play 2 received a poor matchpoint score.