Use this planning process for notrumps

Here is the planning process for notrumps:

1. Count top tricks.
2. Work out how many extra tricks are needed.
3. Decide where to get the extra tricks.
4. Go for the extra tricks as soon as possible.

There are three basic methods of establishing extra tricks in notrumps:

1. By Force: flushing out an opposing higher card or cards, using sequential lower cards.
2. By Length: exhausting the opponents of all their cards in a suit in which you are longer.
3. By Position (‘finessing’): leading from the opposite hand to a card you are trying to promote in the hope that the opponent playing second will have the missing higher card.

Force winners do not rely on the opposing split and where the missing high card(s) is located. So, when available (and provided you can afford to lose the lead) Force is usually the preferred method.

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What happened

Declarer won ♥ 5 lead with ♥ Q and immediately turned to his long suit, clubs. His ♣ 2 went to ♣ 6, ♣ 10 and ♣ Q. East returned ♥ 8 and declarer won with dummy’s ♥ K. Declarer then played ♣ 4 to ♣ J and West’s ♣ K. West led back ♥ 7 to ♥ A (East discarding ♠ 2) and declarer cashed ♣ A. East discarding was a blow and declarer had no winning option at this point. He tried leading the ♠ Q but West won ♠ K, cashed ♥ J9 and ♣ 9 before leading to East’s ♠ A. Down three.

What should have happened

First, count top tricks. You have no spades (having to lose the lead first), three hearts, three diamonds and one club. You need two more and they will both come from spades, forcing out ♠ AK. 100%.

Win Trick One with ♥ Q and lead ♠ Q. Say West wins ♠ K and leads ♥ 4. Win ♥ A and lead ♠ 9. Say East ducks his ace (best). Your ♠ 9 wins and you lead to dummy’s ♦ Q and lead ♠ J. East wins ♠ A and leads ♦ 7. Win ♦ K, cross to ♦ A, then cash ♠ 10. ♥ K and ♣ A are your eighth and ninth tricks. Game made.

Tip: Look out for Force winners, even in a short suit.