Lesson 13: Tricks from small cards Surendra Mehta March 2007

Surendra Mehta, December Recap Recap through opening bids and responses

Surendra Mehta, December You have 12 points or more. What is your opening bid? S X X H A Q K X X X D X X X C A X X X 13, U, 1H S A K Q X H X X D K J X X C J X X 14, B, 1NT S K X H Q J X X D A Q J X C K J X 17, B, 1D S A K H Q J X X D A Q J X C K J X 21, B, 2NT S A K H A K J X D A Q J X C K J X 26, B, 2C S K X H X X D A Q X X X X X C X X 9, UB, 3D

Surendra Mehta, December Partner has an opening bid of (a) 1D; (b) 1H; (c) 1S; what is your response to each bid? S J X H Q X X D K Q X X C A Q X X Pt: 14 2c, 2c, 2c S A K X X H Q D A J X X C X X X X Pt: 14 1S, 1S, 4S S K Q X H Q X X D A X C A J X Pt: 16 3Nt, 3NT, 3NT S K X X X H A X X X X D C A K X X Pt: 14 1H, 4H, 4S S A X X H A X X X D Q X X X C K X Pt: 13 1H, 4H, 2H S A K X X H K Q X X X D Q X X C Q X Pt: 16 1H, 4H, 4S

Surendra Mehta, December Tricks from small cards.

Surendra Mehta, December ESTABLISHING TRICKS IN LONG SUITS H A K 3 2 H J 10 9H 8 7 The distribution is such that you will get the fourth H trick H Q On the other hand the distribution can be 4:1

Surendra Mehta, December CONSIDERING DIVISION OF OPPONENTS’ CARDS West H J 10 9 North (dummy) H A K 3 2 South (declarer) H Q 6 5 East H West H J North (dummy) H A K 3 2 South (declarer) H Q 6 5 East H st : distribution is such that you will get the fourth H trick 2 nd : distribution is such that you will not get the fourth H trick

Surendra Mehta, December EXPECTED DIVISION OF OPPONENTS’ CARDS No of cards heldMost likely distribution

Surendra Mehta, December EXPECTED DIVISION OF OPPONENTS’ CARDS General rule Even No of cards – Uneven distribution Odd No of cards – Even distribution

Surendra Mehta, December GETTING TO YOUR WINNERS North (dummy)  A K Q 7 6 South (declarer)  North (dummy)  A South (declarer)  K 3 2 Opponents have 5 – 3:2 Just play 3 top cards; the remaining 2 small diamonds will be winners Opponents have 5 – 3:2 2 options: Take your winners first or lose one of your tricks first. 2 nd option preferred - Entry

Surendra Mehta, December Putting in practice? (3NT; west leads Q of spades) S T O P S 5 4 H D 8 7 C A K Organise the Plan Stop to consider the goal – 9 tricks Extra 2 tricks in clubs Tally the winners – 7 sure tricks; need 3 extra tricks S A K 8 7 H A K D A C Put your plan into operation

Surendra Mehta, December Putting in practice? (3NT; west leads Q of spades) S T O P S K 8 7 H K Q 5 D C Organise the Plan Stop to consider the goal – 9 tricks Extra trick in D assuming opp 3:2 distribution Tally the winners – 8 sure tricks; need 1 extra trick S A 6 4 H A 10 9 D A K 8 4 C A 9 4 Put your plan into operation

Surendra Mehta, December GIVING UP THE HAND North (dummy)  South (declarer)  Opponents have 5 D Odd number – thus assume even distribution (ie 3:2) Possible to make one trick in clubs Will need to give up the lead 3 times

Surendra Mehta, December SUMMARY Suits of 8 or more cards – source of tricks with small cards It might require giving up the lead one or twice or even three times Odd number of cards (e.g. 5) will be divided evenly 3-2 rather than 4-1 Even number of cards (e.g. 6) will be divided unevenly 4-2 rather than 3-3