BeginnersBeginners

Lesson 16Lesson 16

Declarer Play in No Declarer Play in No TrumpsTrumps

Declarer Play in NTDeclarer Play in NT

• The Auction is completeThe Auction is complete

• The opening lead is madeThe opening lead is made

• Dummy goes downDummy goes down

• Is it the right contract?Is it the right contract?

• It is now irrelevantIt is now irrelevant

• Because its what you have to playBecause its what you have to play

• So concentrate on thatSo concentrate on that

Prepare a Cunning PlanPrepare a Cunning Plan

• Keep Control of the SuitsKeep Control of the Suits

• How many top tricks are there?How many top tricks are there?

• How many more are needed?How many more are needed?

• Where can we establish them?Where can we establish them?

• Are there any dangers?Are there any dangers?

• If it looks impossible is there a If it looks impossible is there a gambling option?gambling option?

1NT1NT3NT3NT

A

Q

2

Q

T

4

K

8

Q

J

4

3

2

K

5

4

K

6

3

A

Q

7

2

T

7

5

2NT

A

Q

2

Q

T

4

K

8

Q

J

4

3

2

K

5

4

K

6

3

A

Q

7

2

T

7

5

How Many Top Tricks? 6How Many more needed? 3Are there any dangers?

Where can we establish the extra tricks?

• ContracContract is t is

• 6NT6NT

A

Q

2

A

K

4

A

8

Q

J

4

3

2

K

J

4

Q

J

3

K

9

7

2

K

T

5

How Many Top Tricks? 8How Many more needed? 4Are there any dangers?

Where can we establish the extra tricks?

Establishing Tricks in Long Establishing Tricks in Long SuitsSuits• With 8 cards the most likely split for With 8 cards the most likely split for

the remaining 5 is 3/2 the remaining 5 is 3/2

• If you have 5 in 1 hand you will If you have 5 in 1 hand you will probably make 2 when opponents probably make 2 when opponents are outare outQ

J

4

3

2

T

7

5

• Lead 2 toward T

• Then 5 toward Q

• You lose A and K

• Then make 3 tricks

The FinesseThe Finesse• When you have an When you have an

honour sequence honour sequence with a gap:with a gap:

• The A will always makeThe A will always make• If you play A followed by Q the Q will lose to the If you play A followed by Q the Q will lose to the

KK• Lead low toward AQ and put up Q unless K is Lead low toward AQ and put up Q unless K is

playedplayed• If K is onside it makesIf K is onside it makes• If offside it failsIf offside it fails• So 50% of the time you make an extra trickSo 50% of the time you make an extra trick

A

Q

2

5

4

The FinesseThe Finesse

• Lead 2 toward QLead 2 toward Q

• If K is onside you make the QIf K is onside you make the Q

• If offside you don’tIf offside you don’t

• It makes 50% of the timeIt makes 50% of the time

• If you lead Q toward A good defenders If you lead Q toward A good defenders will play K to limit you to 1 trickwill play K to limit you to 1 trick

A

Q

2

5

4

• It works with the It works with the honours on honours on opposite sides:opposite sides:

The FinesseThe Finesse• Finessing towards Finessing towards

lower honourslower honours

• Lead 5 towards KJLead 5 towards KJ• If 2If 2ndnd player plays low put up J player plays low put up J• If 2If 2ndnd player plays A play low player plays A play low• If 2If 2ndnd player plays Q play K player plays Q play K• Then lead 7 towards remaining honourThen lead 7 towards remaining honour• If either A or Q is onside you make 1If either A or Q is onside you make 1• If Both are onside you make 2If Both are onside you make 2

K

J

7

6

5

The FinesseThe FinesseWith 2 lower With 2 lower

honours take a honours take a double finessedouble finesse

• Lead 4 and put up TLead 4 and put up T

• It probably fails (75%)It probably fails (75%)

• Then lead 5 towards JThen lead 5 towards J

• Good chance of making 2 tricksGood chance of making 2 tricks

• Only fails if both K and Q are offsideOnly fails if both K and Q are offside

A

J

T

6

5

4

A

Q

2

Q

T

4

K

8

Q

4

3

2

5

4

K

6

3

A

Q

7

T

5

J

J

J

J

4 Top Tricks

Establish 3 more in

1 in

maybe 2

Finesse in

Contract

3NT

FinessesFinesses

• Where you can take a finesse without Where you can take a finesse without danger take itdanger take it

• When you need an extra trick and have When you need an extra trick and have no other option take itno other option take it

• If either opponents bid you can expect If either opponents bid you can expect high cards to be in that hand – so with a high cards to be in that hand – so with a choice finesse away from the strong handchoice finesse away from the strong hand

• Establishing tricks in a long suit (8+) is Establishing tricks in a long suit (8+) is usually a better optionusually a better option

Keeping ControlKeeping Control

• In NT contracts control is essentialIn NT contracts control is essential

• If you have to establish a suit do NOT If you have to establish a suit do NOT cash other winners cash other winners

• It gives the defence extra tricks with It gives the defence extra tricks with small cardssmall cards

• If one defender has 6 cards in a suit If one defender has 6 cards in a suit where you have AKQ and you cash where you have AKQ and you cash them they take 3 tricks if they get back them they take 3 tricks if they get back inin

• So – set up enough winners, then cash So – set up enough winners, then cash them!them!

Keeping ControlKeeping Control

• 28 HCP28 HCP

• 7 top tricks7 top tricks dangerdanger

• EstablishEstablish • Then cash Then cash

other suitsother suits

A

K

Q

5

4

3

A

Q

T

4

3

A

K

Q

J

8

7

Q

J

9

8

7

5

4

3

2

If you cash If you cash ‘s or ‘s or ‘s first you give ‘s first you give away cheap tricksaway cheap tricks

Keeping ControlKeeping Control

• Do NOT cash winners until you have Do NOT cash winners until you have established enough tricks for the contractestablished enough tricks for the contract

• Except!!Except!!• When cashing winners will clear the suit When cashing winners will clear the suit

thus avoiding cheap winners for the thus avoiding cheap winners for the defencedefence

• This has a squeeze effect and defence This has a squeeze effect and defence may have to throw cards they expect to may have to throw cards they expect to win.win.

Keeping ControlKeeping Control• Contract 3NTContract 3NT

• 28 HCP28 HCP

• 7 top tricks7 top tricks dangerdanger

• Run Run • Then Then

establish establish ‘s‘s

A

6

Q

5

4

3

A

Q

T

4

3

Q

K

T

J

8

7

Q

A

K

8

7

5

4

3

2

Running Running ‘s defence have 6 discards. ‘s defence have 6 discards.

May give clues to missing K’s. May give clues to missing K’s.

‘‘s may be discarded.s may be discarded.

Taking a Gamble!Taking a Gamble!• 1NT - they 1NT - they

all Passed!all Passed!• 3 winners3 winners• Looks Looks

hopelesshopeless• Only hope is Only hope is

if if K is K is singleton singleton

• Lead Lead A A and pray!and pray!

A

A

7

6

3

4

3

2

2

J

T

9

2

8

7

7

6

Q

A

2

9

Q

3

6

5

4

SummarySummary• Make a PlanMake a Plan• Long suits are preferable to finesses for Long suits are preferable to finesses for

establishing tricksestablishing tricks• Use finesses when it is either the only chance Use finesses when it is either the only chance

or there is no dangeror there is no danger• Keep Suit ControlKeep Suit Control• Only cash winners when the contract is safe Only cash winners when the contract is safe

or you can clear the suitor you can clear the suit• Do NOT give away cheap tricksDo NOT give away cheap tricks• Defence often help if you let them!Defence often help if you let them!