How to Play a Part-Score

Almost 42% of all deals are played in part-scores, so there is no question that they are very important. When playing matchpoints, the difference between making a part-score and going down one will have the same impact as if you were playing a game or slam.

Why aren't part-score deals featured more often in lessons, books, and newspaper columns? The answer is that they are frequently far more difficult to declare than a game or slam. Since part-scores require fewer tricks than other contracts, you would think that they are easier to make.

But that is NOT true. Instead, the reality is that since declarer has limited assets, and may even be forced to play in a 7-card trump fit, it is often more difficult to make a part-score than a game or slam! When you are declarer on a deal where your side lacks the values for game, selecting the best line of play is often very difficult.

In this lesson, Marty will show you how to:

• - Understand and apply the essential principle of Restricted Choice.
• - Know the right time to count winners in a suit contract.
• - Take advantage of clues from the opponents' auction.
• - Count the opponents' distribution to enable you to make "unmakable" contracts.
• - Use negative inferences from the opening lead to locate missing honors.
• - Improve your understanding of suit combinations.
• - Decide when to draw trump ASAP despite a questionable trump suit.
• - Know when it is correct to intentionally ruff often in the hand with trump length.
• - Induce an opponent to help you by covering an honor with an honor.
• - Benefit from useful advice to know how to induce errors with a falsecard.

Here is an example of what Marty will teach:

Contract: 2NT

Lead: ♦K

How will you play ?

Answer
You have 6 immediate winners: 2 spades, 2 hearts, 1 diamond, and 1 club. You need 2 extra tricks, and your best chance to get them is to finesse in the majors. Unfortunately, the dummy has only one obvious entry.

At trick 1, should you win or hold up? If you duck the ♦K, how will you feel if West shifts to a club? Not good. Therefore, you should win the 1st trick.

Now what? You could lead the ♥5 to the ace and take a spade finesse. But even if it wins, unless the ♠Q falls under the ♠A K, you have only 7 tricks. However, there is a better way to maximize dummy's assets. At trick 2, lead the ♥J, planning to let it ride. If West has the ♥Q, it doesn't matter whether he covers or ducks. On the actual hand, East will win the ♥Q. If he shifts to a club, you will win your ace and return your attention to hearts.

You have the ♥K 5 and dummy has the ♥A 10. Lead ♥K to ♥A and take the spade finesse. If that wins, you’ll lead the ♥5 to the ♥10 and repeat the spade finesse and make 2NT.

With this line of play, you will win at least 8 tricks 75% of the time.

Here is the entire deal: