IMPROVE YOUR PLAY

With Larry Matheny

 

In a small 0-500 game this hand caused bidding problems.  Of the eight N/S pairs only one reached the excellent slam.

 

Scoring:  Matchpoints (Pairs)

#14-14

Dlr

N

Vul

N/S

S

A95

H

J106

D

73

C

KJ1075

S

 Q76

H

 872

D

 8652

C

 643

/images/pad.bmp

S

 1084

H

 943

D

 A1094

C

 982

 

S

KJ32

H

AKQ5

D

KQJ

C 

AQ

 

 

  West

 North

East

South

 -      

 Pass

 Pass

2C

    Pass

 2D

 Pass

 3NT

    Pass

    6NT

   Pass

   Pass

    Pass

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

   

       

   

Bidding:  South’s rebid of 3NT showed 25-27 high card points.  Holding nine points, North has an easy raise to 6NT.  Here is a way of showing strong balanced hands:

20-21  Open 2NT

22-24  Open 2C and rebid 2NT

25-27  Open 2C and rebid 3NT

28-29  Open 2C and rebid 4NT

 

After South described his hand, this became a simple math problem for North.  There are variations to this formula and you should discuss this with your partners.

 

Play:  West led a diamond and declarer soon claimed 12 tricks. 

 


Copyright 2014