The wheels of progress...

Thankfully, I think some elements of my bridge game are starting to improve. I'm slowing down and making fewer thoughtless errors. I'm not sure I'm making that many fewer errors overall, but at least everything has a rationale behind it. If I know why I did something, at least I have a shot at fixing it.

I'm definitely seeing an improvement in my dummy play and defense. I attribute both of these to the (still limited) reading I've managed to get in with Watson and Kantar. I still need to develop muscles for counting down shape and specific spots left out.

Here's a hand from BBO that I think I did ok on. I'm fairly confident that I didn't have to overcome best defense, but I'll take what I get. I'd be interested in the opinions of anyone out there re: my play and things I might've missed...

♠ T985 ♥ AT9 ♦ Q6 ♣ QT86

♠ K73 ♥ J853 ♦ AJ95 ♣ AK

You're south and delcarer in 3NT. West leads the ♠2.

I played small from dummy and East inserted the ♠J, which I took with the ♠K. If ♣s split favorably, I figured that I had 7 additional trick (1♥, 4♣s, and 2♦s). Hearts could be a problem, but I had good spots and wasn't too concerned.

If the opps lead ♦s, I can probably gain a trick there. But, given that I started with 7 'well spotted' ♠s, I figured my best chance for the sure was to establish that suit.

So, I led low from hand towards the ♠T89 in dummy, which west took with the ♠Q. Helpful chap that he was, west switched to a ♦ which I won in hand by covering east's T with the J. I pushed another ♠ toward dummy, again won by West with the ♠A. West returned a ♣ this time, which I won in hand.

Playing W for the missing ♥ honors, I led a low ♥ toward dummy and finessed the 9. Cross with a club, repeat the ♥ finesse (5, Q, A, 2). Now dummy yields 2 clubs and a spade, on which I can pitch ♥ and a diamond, and the ♦ A was the last trick.

Dealer S Vul All Scoring - Lead ♠2	♠ T985 ♥ AT9 ♦ Q6 ♣ QT86
♠ AQ42 ♥ KQ7 ♦ K72 ♣ J75		♠ J6 ♥ 642 ♦ T843 ♣ 9432
	♠ K73 ♥ J853 ♦ AJ95 ♣ AK