Good Advice on How to Better Your Matchpoint Game

Remember your manners when you are playing cards.
It will add to everyone's good time!

Experienced players will tell you that there are several things you can do to better your matchpoint game. Matchpoints are always tough since every trick matters. You must take the maximum number of tricks whether you are declarer or defender. Everyone goes into slumps and it can be a very frustrating time. Here are some ideas to bring you out of your slump:

First, play in the Open Game instead of the Intermediate/Novice Game. You will learn a great deal more from players with experience. You can ask your opponents after the hand what they would have done with your cards, and they will help you understand why what you did was right or wrong. In addition, you will not feel so bad when you don't win. After all, the competition is a lot tougher.

Take the information you learn to heart when you return to playing in the limited fields, and your score will naturally improve. You can share your new knowledge with the other players in the game and their games will improve too.

Second, get your matchpoints for each board off the recap sheet. These days most directors are able (through the use of computers) to simply print out your scores for you immediately after the session. This enables you and partner to have a cup of coffee and go over the results while the boards are still fresh in your minds. If you have a good result, you can simply go on to the next board. If you have a bad result, you

can see if there was anything you could have done to make it better.

Third, learn to balance. This is especially important when you are not vulnerable and the opponents have settled in a contract at the two level or below. Balancing will result in your pushing them up a level if they choose to compete, making it easier for you to defeat the contract. Or, it will find a place where your side can play the hand at a still-low level. The contract will often make, but even if it goes down, it is only 50 a trick!

Fourth, don't rebid (as responder) 2NT or 3NT over partner's major suit rebid to save him from a misfit. When he rebids a major, he is describing length in that suit and he is not looking for a fit. 2NT or 3NT are meant to improve the contract and should only be used when that is a likely result.

Fifth, never criticize your partner (or your opponents) at the table. Talk about the hands after the game. Refrain from discussion in the playing area. When you discuss boards at the table, others can hear and it makes the hands more difficult for them to play fairly.

In addition, criticizing partner is counterproductive to your side. It will get partner thinking about what happened on the previous hand instead of what is happening on the current one.

Have fun at the game!