IMPROVE YOUR PLAY

With Larry Matheny

Many bridge players love to bid and often do so when they should not. Here is a hand that shows that malady.

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)

#13-33
Dlr	S
Vul	Both

	102
	KJ93
	Q1073
	KQ9

	7
	64
	AK965
	AJ763

	QJ9843
	A82
	42
	84

	AK65
	Q1075
	J8
	1052

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

Bidding: The auction started in a normal manner until North decided that she should enter the bidding. South accepted the invitation and competed with 3 to close the auction.

Play: West’s singleton spade lead was won by South. Declarer continued with a trump to East’s ace. East returned a spade which West ruffed. The defense also captured two diamonds and one club to defeat the contract by one trick. Why is this hand of interest? With so much defense in the minor suits, it made no sense for North to enter the auction. By doing so she turned a plus score into a minus. Most of the N/S pairs were +200 or +300 and there was even one +800. North just could not resist and paid the price with -100.

Discipline is important at bridge.

Copyright ©2013 Larry Matheny