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Andrew:
Tip: Do not rush to make the seemingly ‘obvious’ play before following the three key stages.
- Stage One: count the top tricks in each suit – just the ones that can be made without losing the lead.
- Stage Two: work out how many extra tricks are needed for the contract.
- Stage Three: work out where those extra tricks are coming from. NB: particularly in notrumps, those extra tricks should be established early. We will concentrate on each stage in more detail over the next few deals, but this deal focusses on the whole process. West leads ♥ 6 to 3 NT. Form a plan (before playing from dummy).
Please click here to play this deal
Stage One: there are four top tricks in spades; two in hearts; none at all in diamonds (without losing the lead) and one in clubs. Total seven.
Stage Two: two extra tricks are required.
Stage Three: though length is often a good source of extra tricks, it is not always.
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South Deals None Vul |
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| West | North | East | South |
| 1 N | |||
| Pass | 3 N | Pass | Pass |
| Pass |
| 3 NT by South |
| Lead: ♥ 6 |
What happened
Declarer won the ♥ 6 lead with ♥ A, then led ♣ 2 to ♣ A and returned ♣ 3. East discarded ♠ 5 and West won ♣ J. He followed with ♥ 3 to ♥ K. Declarer then led ♣ 6. West won ♣ K and led ♥ 8. East won ♥ Q and returned ♥ 10. West overtook with ♥ J and cashed ♥ 9 and ♦ A. Down two.
What should have happened
Playing on clubs will work if the suit splits 2–2. But why take the risk? Instead look at diamonds. Flushing out the opposing ♦ A MUST create the two extra tricks required.
Win ♥ 6 lead with ♥ A (or ♥ K) and lead a diamond (say ♦ J). West wins ♦ A (if he ducks, then play a second diamond) and continues with ♥ 3. Win ♥ K, cash the promoted ♦ KQ and lead out the remaining fi ve top tricks (♠ AKQJ and ♣ A). Contract made.
