North-South vulnerable. 
West deals.
                              North
                              S: J                    
                              H: Q           
                              D: A Q J 10    
                              C: A Q 10 8 7 4 2
            West                             East
            S: A 9 8 5                       S: K Q 7 6 3 2  
            H: J 10                          H: K 6 2      
            D: K 5 3                         D: 9 7 2             
            C: K 9 6 5                       C: 3           
                              South                         
                              S: 10 4 
                              H: A 9 8 7 5 4 3
                              D: 8 6 4     
                              C: J        
          The Bidding:  
                   West   North     East   South                  
                    1C     Pass      1S     3H  
                    3S     4C       Pass    4H  
                   Pass    Pass     Pass
          Opening lead: AS
     Today's hand illustrates two important points that apply to
bridge in general and especially to matchpoint duplicate bridge. 
I held the North cards and when my right hand opponent opened the
bidding with one club, I passed without thought.  In the back of
my mind I was hopping that East would pass and my partner would
make a takeout double which I could convert to penalty by
passing.  This was, of course, a pipe dream, but you have to have
a dream now and again.
     Anyway, East responded one spade and my partner, Mort Pierce
of Chagrin Falls made a pre-emptive call of three hearts.  West
raised spades and it was my turn.  
     Here is the second point.  The last thing you want to have
to do is play a contract in a minor suit.  You play in a minor
when you cannot find a major to play in and it is obvious that
you don't have enough control for a no trump contract.  My
problem was that I did not want to raise hearts with the
singleton queen.  My four club call was forward going and showed
values.  The North hand is very difficult to evaluate but I had a
feeling that it would not become the final contract and if
partner was on lead against a spade contract it would get him off
to the right start.  East passed and Pierce bid four hearts. This
became the final contract.  
     I think I would have played the jack of trumps at trick one, 
but the ace of spades allowed West to hold the lead and see the dummy. 
Again, I think I would have switched to the jack of hearts but
West continued with the nine of spades.  Pierce trumped in dummy
and called for the ace of clubs.  A small club was trumped in hand
while East pitched a diamond.  A diamond finesse worked and
another club came off dummy.  East pitched a diamond.  Pierce
trumped and led another diamond.  West played low. The jack
was called for from the dummy and East trumped.  A spade was
trumped by Pierce who played the ace of hearts and another heart,
crashing the king and the jack. 
     Four hearts, making, was worth eight matchpoints on an
eleven top.  The scores that were better were the result of
doubles and/or errors.  
     Work on being patient during the auction.  It is often
correct to get a feel for what is going on before jumping in. 
_______________________________________________________