Beginners Lesson 16 Declarer Play in No Trumps

Declarer Play in NT The Auction is complete The opening lead is made Dummy goes down Is it the right contract? It is now irrelevant Because its what you have to play So concentrate on that

Prepare a Cunning Plan Keep Control of the Suits Keep 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 gambling option? If it looks impossible is there a gambling option?

1NT3NT  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A QQ 22 Q T 4 KK 88 QQ JJ 44 33 22 KK 55 44 K 6 3 AA QQ 77 22 TT 77 55 How Many Top Tricks? 6 How Many more needed? 3 Are there any dangers? Where can we establish the extra tricks? 

Contract is Contract is 6NT 6NT AA QQ 22 A K 4 AA 88 QQ JJ 44 33 22 KK JJ 44 Q J 3 KK 99 77 22 KK TT 55 How Many Top Tricks? 8 How Many more needed? 4 Are there any dangers?  Where can we establish the extra tricks? 

Establishing Tricks in Long Suits With 8 cards the most likely split for the remaining 5 is 3/2 With 8 cards the most likely split for the remaining 5 is 3/2 If you have 5 in 1 hand you will probably make 2 when opponents are out If you have 5 in 1 hand you will probably make 2 when opponents are out QQ JJ 44 33 22 TT 77 55 Lead 2 toward T Then 5 toward Q You lose A and K Then make 3 tricks

The Finesse When you have an honour sequence with a gap: The A will always make The A will always make If you play A followed by Q the Q will lose to the K If you play A followed by Q the Q will lose to the K Lead low toward AQ and put up Q unless K is played Lead low toward AQ and put up Q unless K is played If K is onside it makes If K is onside it makes If offside it fails If offside it fails So 50% of the time you make an extra trick So 50% of the time you make an extra trick AA QQ 22 55 44

The Finesse Lead 2 toward Q Lead 2 toward Q If K is onside you make the Q If K is onside you make the Q If offside you don’t If offside you don’t It makes 50% of the time It makes 50% of the time If you lead Q toward A good defenders will play K to limit you to 1 trick If you lead Q toward A good defenders will play K to limit you to 1 trick AA QQ 22 55 44 It works with the honours on opposite sides: It works with the honours on opposite sides:

The Finesse Finessing towards lower honours Finessing towards lower honours Lead 5 towards KJ If 2nd player plays low put up J If 2nd player plays A play low If 2nd player plays Q play K Then lead 7 towards remaining honour If either A or Q is onside you make 1 If Both are onside you make 2 K J 7 6 5

The Finesse With 2 lower honours take a double finesse Lead 4 and put up T Lead 4 and put up T It probably fails (75%) It probably fails (75%) Then lead 5 towards J Then lead 5 towards J Good chance of making 2 tricks Good chance of making 2 tricks Only fails if both K and Q are offside Only fails if both K and Q are offside AA JJ TT 66 55 44

AA QQ 22 Q T 4 KK 88 QQ 44 33 22 55 44 K 6 3 AA QQ 77 TT 55 J JJ JJ JJ 4 Top Tricks Establish 3 more in 1 in  maybe 2 Finesse in  Contract 3NT

Finesses Where you can take a finesse without danger take it Where you can take a finesse without danger take it When you need an extra trick and have no other option take it When you need an extra trick and have no other option take it If either opponents bid you can expect high cards to be in that hand – so with a choice finesse away from the strong hand If either opponents bid you can expect high cards to be in that hand – so with a choice finesse away from the strong hand Establishing tricks in a long suit (8+) is usually a better option Establishing tricks in a long suit (8+) is usually a better option

Keeping Control In NT contracts control is essential In NT contracts control is essential If you have to establish a suit do NOT cash other winners If you have to establish a suit do NOT cash other winners It gives the defence extra tricks with small cards It gives the defence extra tricks with small cards If one defender has 6 cards in a suit where you have AKQ and you cash them they take 3 tricks if they get back in If one defender has 6 cards in a suit where you have AKQ and you cash them they take 3 tricks if they get back in So – set up enough winners, then cash them! So – set up enough winners, then cash them!

Keeping Control 28 HCP 28 HCP 7 top tricks 7 top tricks danger danger Establish  Establish  Then cash other suits Then cash other suits AA KK QQ 55 44 33 A Q T 4 3 AA KK QQ JJ 88 77 QQ JJ 99 88 77 55 44 33 22 If you cash  ‘s or  ‘s first you give away cheap tricks

Keeping Control Do NOT cash winners until you have established enough tricks for the contract Do NOT cash winners until you have established enough tricks for the contract Except!! Except!! When cashing winners will clear the suit thus avoiding cheap winners for the defence When cashing winners will clear the suit thus avoiding cheap winners for the defence This has a squeeze effect and defence may have to throw cards they expect to win. This has a squeeze effect and defence may have to throw cards they expect to win.

Keeping Control Contract 3NT Contract 3NT 28 HCP 28 HCP 7 top tricks 7 top tricks danger danger Run  Run  Then establish ‘s Then establish  ‘s AA 66 QQ 55 44 33 A Q T 4 3 QQ KK TT JJ 88 77 QQ AA KK 88 77 55 44 33 22 Running ‘s defence have 6 discards. Running  ‘s defence have 6 discards. May give clues to missing K’s. ‘s may be discarded.

Taking a Gamble! 1NT - they all Passed! 1NT - they all Passed! 3 winners 3 winners Looks hopeless Looks hopeless Only hope is if  K is singleton Only hope is if  K is singleton Lead  A and pray! Lead  A and pray! A AA 77 66 3 22 JJ TT 99 22 8 7 77 66 QQ AA 22 99 QQ 33 66 55 44

Summary Make a Plan Make a Plan Long suits are preferable to finesses for establishing tricks Long suits are preferable to finesses for establishing tricks Use finesses when it is either the only chance or there is no danger Use finesses when it is either the only chance or there is no danger Keep Suit Control Keep Suit Control Only cash winners when the contract is safe or you can clear the suit Only cash winners when the contract is safe or you can clear the suit Do NOT give away cheap tricks Do NOT give away cheap tricks Defence often help if you let them! Defence often help if you let them!