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Improve Your Play Series by Larry Matheny


This popular series of instructional hands has appeared here starting in 2004.

Click on a hand below:
Basic Principles Asking Bid Fit-Showing Jump No Stopper
Find the Overtricks Avoid the Minors Watch Partner's Card Proper Signaling
Only a Squeeze! Double Game Swing Simple Counting Remember the Bidding
Assume the Best Keep Control Stay Calm Go With the Odds
Proper Slam Bidding Exclusion Blackwood A Lucky Hand Mind the Vulnerability
Gambling 3NT Show the Shortness Another Splinter Bid The Right Defense
Too High Good Defense Cash Out Time The Negative Double
Finesses Aren't Needed No Stopper, Partner Keep Communications Open Dangerous Opponent
Take Advantage of the Breaks A Little Luck The Right Tool Majors Over Minors
Skill or Luck? No Duck The Splinter Hand Good Hand Evaluation
A Well-Bid Slam Break Up the Squeeze Suit Preference Signal Think Before You Play
Another Finesse Avoided The Nine Wins! Try for the Overtrick Ouch!
Keep an Open Mind Gloating is Bad Don't Duck The Important Overtrick
The Double The Mighty Queen Save Your Entries Find the Entries
Lebensohl Preempts Work! Deschapelles Coup Use Your Entries Wisely
Know Your Card Combinations Smart Defense Don't Give Away Your Hand Combine Your Chances
Your Best Chances Don't Touch Trumps Smart Play Cue Bidding
A Cross-Ruff Delay Your Decision Thanks for the Preempt Defense Is Tough
Don't Finesse Valuable Overtrick Unfortunate Preempt Good Opening Lead
Don't Duck the Ace Stop and Count Unblock the King Place Their Cards
The Intra-Finesse Protect the King Lucky or Good? A Simple Squeeze
Is It a Guess? Elimination Play The Throw-In A Useful Convention
Difficult Defense A Trump Coup Just Count I Hear You
Simple Math The Power of an 8 A Great Slam Trump Promotion
Take Advantage of the Lead The Splinter Bid An Easy Squeeze Be Careful!
Finesse? Never! The Power of the 5 The Practice Finesse Delay Drawing Trumps
Don't Give Up Don't Guess The End Play Place the Cards
Learn When to Quit Take Your Best Chance Delay the Squeeze Count Your Tricks
Count Their Points Roman Keycard Blackwood Defense Can Be Fun Help Your Partner
Do It Yourself Avoid the Finesse Your Bid Could Cost Prevent the Entry
Ask Partner for Help Hold That Finesse Should You Preempt? Who Has the Ace?
Hope for the Best Watch the Spots Many Options The Crocodile Coup
Another Splinter Great Defense I Only Had 5 Points! Important Overtricks
Drury Scrambling Proper Hand Evaluation Luck or Skill?
Sacrifice Early A Lot of Luck Tough Defense Weak Defense
Double Trouble So Many Options Fascinating Game Be Brave
Slim Chance Could You Bid It? Useful Convention Think It Through
Bid One More Count Your Tricks Watch The Cards Double Game Swing
Double Trouble Blabber Mouth Find The Queens Matchpoints Or IMPs?
Where Is The King? Don't Be Greedy Loser On Loser Re-evaluate Your Hand
Discovery Play Favorite Opponents Easy Slam Slam Bidding
Watch Partner's Cards Proper Hand Evaluation Retain Control Don't Take The Finesse
Watch The Spots The Greedy Defender Very Lucky The Uppercut
Help Your Partner Bid Naturally Wild Ride Weak Jumpshift
A Well Bid Slam Best Option Another Squeeze Assumptions
Listen And Learn Count Your Tricks Notrump Is Better Simple Math
Dont Give Up A Showup Squeeze Wily Defender Lead Director
Another Elimination Play Discovery The Right Tools Stopper
Easy Grand Slam Get Those Overtricks Bad Defense Trust Your Opponent
Defend Or Declare Tough Hand The Responsive Double Don't Forget The Auction
Bad Lead Bad Bid Too Weak to Overcall An Auction Giveaway
Another Lebensohl Bid Forget Science A Double Squeeze To Bid Or Not To Bid
Slow Down A Simple Squeeze Too Much Information Duck That Ace
A Failed Preempt Sneaky Defender Think About The Lead Save Your Entries
Use Caution Swing Time More Overtricks Trump Promotion
Careful Defense Important Agreements Another Intra-finesse Unbridled Optimism
Too High Go With The Odds Slow Down Careful Play
Break Up The Squeeze A Repeating Squeeze Stop And Think Better Not Duck
Trust Your Instincts Who Has The Doubleton To Cover Or Not To Cover Slow Down
Hasty Decision Listen To The Auction Set Trumps Just Do It
The Lowly Jack Bid One More Slow Down Take Your Tricks
Stop And Think An Unlucky Lead Blabber Mouth Dangerous Diamonds
Not So Fast Find The Queen Your Only Hope Dont Forget The Overtrick
Helpful Cue Bid New Partnership Blabbermouth Complicated Auction
Dont Finesse Watch Your Entries Stop And Think Dont Waste Your Trumps
Combine Your Chances Caution Required Gambling 3 N T Count The Clubs
Keep Quiet A Long Auction Sneaky Declarer Auction Giveaway
Two Edged Sword Bid One More Too Many Points The Last Resort
Clever Defense