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Improve Your Play Series by Larry Matheny
Since 2004, this popular series of instructional hands has appeared here.
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 3 NT
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 IM Ps?
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
Don't 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
Don't Forget The Overtrick
Helpful Cue Bid
New Partnership
Blabbermouth
Complicated Auction
Don't Finesse
Watch Your Entries
Stop And Think
Don't Waste Your Trumps
Combine Your Chances
Caution Required
Gambling 3 NT
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
A Simple Squeeze
Weak Jump Overcall
A Wild Hand
Slam Agreement
To Bid Or Not To Bid
Dangerous Preempt
Good Defensive Carding
A Very Lucky Hand
Don't Draw Trumps
A Discovery Play
A Valuable Overtrick
Valuable Entries
Stop And Think
Good Communications
Watch The Spots
The Lost Ace
Hasty Play
No Finesse Needed
Common Sense Defense
Simple Math
Dangerous Opponent
Remember The Auction
Suit Preference Signal
Important Entry
Valuable Entry
A Nice Slam
Trump Management
Whose Hand Is It?
Lady Luck
Jacoby Transfer
Happy Birthday
Loser On ALoser
Elimination Play
The Optimist
Cue Bidding
A Complex Auction
A Grand Slam
Matchpoint Bridge
Poor Defense
Wrong Lead
The Best Odds
Dangerous Overcall
A Bad Bid
The Mighty Seven
Good Slam Auction
Trust Your Opponents
Another Finesse Avoided
Gorgeous Hand
The Queen Ask
Another Lebensohl Hand
Valuable Overtrick
Betrayed By The Bidding
Prevent An Entry
Simple Math
The Vienna Coup
A Double Squeeze
Don't Finesse
Partnership Cooperation
Avoid The Endplay
Watch The Spot Cards
Another Useful Convention
The Right Question
Suit Preference Signal
No Finesse Needed
The Trump Promotion
Wrong Discard
Minor Suit Transfer
Defense Is Fun
Grand Slam
Don't Give Up
Avoid The Finesse
The Splinter Bid
A Simple Squeeze
No Finesse Needed
Delayed Entry
Delay The Trumps
An Easy Slam
A Smart Pass
Double Game Swing
A Bad Dream
The Mighty Four
The Unlikely Overtrick
Crazy Bidding
Counting Is Simple
Think Before You Play
Trust Your Partner
A Friendly Squeeze
A Fix
A Grand Slam
I Should Have Passed
Wrong Opening Lead
Listen To The Auction
Slow Down
A Bad Preempt
Great Defense
Some Simple Math
A Great Convention
Slow Down
An Overbid
A Valuable Entry
The One Spade Trap
A Wild Hand
A Double Game Swing
A Tight Match
An Overtrick
Suit Preference
An Elimination Play
A Bare Minimum
A Great Dummy
An Optimistic View
A Grand Slam
Proper Punishment
Another Squeeze
A Careless Declarer
Plan B
A Big Swing
A Losing Preempt
Only Seven Trumps
Another Preempt
Bad Tempo
Weak Defense
Use Your Opponent
Table Feel
A Valuable Entry
No Finesse Needed
Helpful Opponent
Another Endplay
Just Count
A Good Tool
Thoughtful Defense
Playing With ANovice
Avoid The Endplay
A Fun Hand To Play
A Wild Hand
Proper Punishment
Weak Defense
A Questionable Rule
Good Bidding Agreement
Another Squeeze
Good Auction
A Simple Squeeze
A Dangerous Bid
A Good Grand
A Backup Plan
A Big Swing
Count The Distribution
Blackwood Misused
Declare Or Defend
Weak Bidding Good Play
Slam Bidding
Play To Trick One
A Bad Decision
A Good Overbid
A Fun Endplay
Careful Planning Necessary
Plan B
Strong Slam Bidding
Practice Finesse
Color Blind
Slow Down
Another Grand Slam
Great Spot Cards
A Good Dummy
Listen Carefully
Bad Bid
Another Wild Hand
Dangerous Overcall
A Splinter Bid
Strong Declarer Play
Lightner Double
Don't Lead The Ace
Good Bid
Good Declarer Play
Valuable Entries
Trump Promotion
A Safety Play
Passive Defense
Bad Preempt
Preempts Work
Bidding Problem
Hand Evaluation
Dangerous Overcall
No Discipline
A Safety Play
Remember The Auction
Minor Suit Transfers
Create Your Entry
A Great Problem
Well Bid Slam
A Wild Ride
Dangerous Opponent
Simple Counting
A Splinter Bid
Careful Timing
A Double Game Swing
Texas Transfer
Cash Out Time
Find The Queen
Broken Communications
Another Finesse Avoided
The Uppercut
Which Game?
Lady Luck
A Cross Ruff
A Good Auction
Watch The Spots
Best Percentage
Bad Bid
Hasty Play
Unusual No Trump
Time To Run
Dangerous Lead
Trump Promotion
A Bad Lead
An Unlucky Lead
A Math Problem
A Good Grand Slam
Trump Management
Second Best Contract
The Overcall
Nine Easier Than Ten
Proper Respect
Listen And Learn
A Good Slam
A Bidding Question
The Right Slam
Good Analysis
The Five Level
Another Safety Play
Short Suit Game Try
Harmony Lost
Double Trouble
A Lucky Grand
Danger
Don't Give Up
Do The Math
Another Safety Play
Good Defense
Higher Level Cue Bids
Good Auction
A Doomed Finesse
An Obstacle
Avoid The Minors
No Overtricks
A Backup Plan
Important Entries
A Great Dummy
Remember The Auction
Difficult Defense
Stop and Think
Puppet Stayman
Slow Down
Minor Suit Slam
No Finesse Needed
Double Game Swing
Develop APlan
Queen Ask
Suit Preference
A Showup Squeeze
It's Matchpoints!
Combine Your Chances
Findan Entry
One Hand Two Results
Suit Combinations
A Lead Directing Bid
Intra Finesse
Elimination Play
The Upper Cut
A Showup Squeeze
The Overtrick
Valuable Information
The Vienna Coup
A Trump Promotion
A Lotof Work
Slam Bidding
A Different Game
A Road Map
Wrong Signal
A Splinter Bid
Trust Your Partner
Know When To Stop
Cash The Ace
Get That Overtrick
Blabber Mouth
A Matchpoints Double
Best Chance
Slow Down
A Great Dummy
Informed Decision
Valuable Entries
Opening Lead
Aiding The Enemy
A Fragment Bid
Review The Auction
Restricted Choice
Broken Rule
An Easy Squeeze
Think Before You Lead
A Bad Double
An Easy Grand Slam
Check With Partner
Count Your Tricks
More Counting
Make APlan
Give Count
A Strategic Bid
Five Level Jump
A Dicey Slam
Convention Abuse
An Overbid
Protect The Dummy
A Minor Suit Slam
The Intra Finesse
A Trump Coup
Avoid The Endplay
Increase The Odds
Unfortunate Lead
Dangerous Preempt
Dangerous Opponent
Careful Play
Vienna Coup
Important Overtricks
Risky Overtrick
Remember the Auction
Match Point Scoring
An Endplay
Stop And Think
Its Matchpoints
A Necessary Double
Another Squeeze
No Discipline
Count the Cards
Lady Luck
Lebensohl
The Five Level
A Safety Play
The Better Fit
A Takeout Double
Count the Hand
Only One Chance
A Simple Squeeze
Unblock the Jack
Matchpoint Scoring
A Necessary Assumption
Count the Hand
Fatal Opening Lead
Michaels Cue Bid
Only Seven Trumps
Slow Down
Play Smart
Create Your Entry
Different Solutions
Anticipate the Auction
The Bath Coup
Grand Slam Force
Missed Signal
Hand Evaluation
Not So Fast
Another Grand
Suit Preference
Hidden Entry
A Safer Contract
Safety First
Improve the Odds
New Minor Forcing
Hide Your Plan
Unfortunate Lead
Dont Forget the Double
The Drury Convention
A Simple Slam Try
Easy Defense
Its Matchpoints
The Color Red
Best Chance
Another Grand Slam
Bid Now - Dont Wait
Elimination Play
Know Your Opponents
Entry Needed
Partnership Agreement
Simplicity Wins
Slow Down
Ill Advised
Careful Evaluation
Blabbermouth
Reopening Double
Great Defense
Blackwood
Suit Preference
Dangerous Opponent
Tread Carefully
A Friendly Hand
Lady Luck
Just Count
The Right Finesse
Good Bidding
The Preempt Backfired
Scary Preempt
Lead Problem
Pick The Lead
Only One Option
Dangerous Assumption
No Finesse Needed
Its Matchpoints
Play It Safe
Risk The Contract
Protect Your King
Unusual Action Time
Try Cue Bidding
Find The Missing Cards
An Important Overtrick
Roman Keycard Blackwood
Expensive Information
Grand Slam Auction
Remember the Scoring
An Easy Squeeze
Penalty Double
A Useful Agreement
Whats Your Call
Stay Alert
A Valuable Agreement
The Reverse
Slow Down
Difficult Defense
Lead-Directing Double
The Poor Minors
Locate The Missing Cards
Auto Splinter
Its Matchpoints
Trust Your Partner
The Minor Wins
Dangerous Opponent
Aggressive Bidding
Minor Suit Slam
Get The Count
Play It Safe
Poor Defense
Dangerous Preemt
Place The Cards
Unlucky Decision
Entry Troubles
Stop and Think
Duck Smoothly
Strong Defense
Declarers Choice
Blabbermouth
The Splinter
Maximum Pressure
A Safety Play
Minimize Your Losses
Basic Bidding Rules
Entry Problem
A Practice Finesse
Dangerous Opponent
Difficult Defense
Blabber Mouth
Strong Intermediates
Stop And Think
Double Squeeze
Smart Defense
Great Defense
Valuable Overtrick
Dangerous Preempt
Daring Defense
Confused Auction
Dangerous Overcall
A Different Game
Exclusion Blackwood
A Discovery Play
Remember The Auction
Proper Evaluation
Do The Math
Slow Down
An Easy Squeeze
Elimination Play
Dont Give Up
Decide Later
Simply Count
Suit Preference
Hand Evaluation
Trump Promotion
Important Cards
Embarrassing Moment
Dangerous Opponent
A Matchpoint Double
Overtricks
Listen
Important Overtrick
A Lucky Hand
Great Bidding
The Best Lead
Weak Defense
Help Your Partner
Unusual Notrump
Declare Or Defend
Elimination Play
Proper Evaluation
Surprise Winner
Delay Trumps
Unusual Notrump
Cue Bids
Timid Bidding
Dangerous Preempt
Accurate Defense
Unlucky Preempt