Playing and defending NO TRUMP CONTRACTS

Playing the contract STOP! Review dummy and your hand How many tricks can you count? Do you have a problem suit? Do you have a nice long suit? What card has been led and what does it mean?

Rule of 11 If the 4 th highest of the longest and strongest suit has been led Take away the number of the card value from 11  Q K x x  x x  A x xeg 11 – 6 = 5 There are 5 higher cards than the  6 in the other 3 hands

 K J 3 x x x x  A x x x  x x  Q  A 5 2 K x x11-6 = 5 J x x  x x  Q J x x  A x x  A x x  10 7 A Q  K x x  K Q J x x 4  3NT by S- Lead 6 

Rule of 11 Count the number of cards you can see in your hand and the dummy (  K J in dummy and 10 7 in your hand) ie 4 cards That leaves 1 card (  A ) higher than the 6 in the East hand

 K J 3 x x x x  A x x x  x x  Q  A 5 2 K x x11-6 = 5 J x x  x x  Q J x x  A x x  A x x  10 7 A Q  K x x  K Q J x x 4  3NT by S- Lead 6 

Play Board 1 Bd 8 R4 Swiss Rule of 11

Playing the contract If you need to, lose a trick or two while you are in control and before the opposition can work out your plan Set up your long suit first

Driving out opponents’ top cards Develop your extra tricks immediately Leave all other top tricks alone to keep control in all suits  x x x x K x x  A x x  A x x  K Q J A Q x  K x x  K x x x 3NT (9 tricks) Lead Q 

Avoid blocking Which card should be played to take first trick?  K x – A Q J x  A K J x – Q x  J x – A K Q x  K Q J x – A x  A Q x – K J x x  A Q x x – K J x

Consider which order to take your tricks  A J x x A x  x x x  x x x x  K Q x x x x  A x x  A K x x 2NT(8 tricks) Lead K 

 K J x x x x x  A x x x  x x  x x  x x x Q J 10 x x x x  Q 10 x x  J x x  x x x  A K Q J  A Q 10 x x A K  K x  x x x x 4  3NT by S- Lead Q

Using “entries” when a suit is blocked  A x x Q J x x  x x x  x x x  10 x x x A K  A x x x  A x x 1NT(7 tricks) Lead K 

Play Board 2 Blocking example

Holding up in No Trumps Rule of seven Take the number of cards you hold in declarer and dummy hands and take total away from seven. Hold up that number of times K led A 8 5 Number of cards in the suit led = 6 Subtract this from 7 = 1 Therefore HOLD up the Ace once before playing it

Holding up continued 7 4 Q J K 10 2 A 9 5 West leads 6 East plays the king & returns the 10. Total number of cards 5 7 – 5 = 2Hold up twice / again

Holding up continued  A Q x x -  x x x  K Q J 10 x  J x x  10 x x x K Q J x x x x x  K x x  Q x x  x x  A x x  K x A x x x  A J x x  x x x Lead K 7-4 =3 Hold up three times

Holding up continued  A Q  K Q J 10 9   J 5 4  K Q J  8 4  A 7 3  K 8 2  J 10 5  K 8 6 A 8 3   A Q 6 3 Contract 3NT Opening lead K How many top tricks can you see? What do you have to drive out to make the extra tricks?

Holding up continued If you take the K with the Ace immediately – then play a diamond – this will be the situation 9 Q J The defenders will defeat your contract. Prevent this happening by holding up the Ace – twice. At trick 3 take it with the Ace. Now when you play a diamond to the Ace East is on lead but has no heart to lead.

Play Board 3 Holding up

Defending NT Lead carefully Keep leading your long suit?

Defending NT Lead carefully – Unbid suit? – A major suit if stayman not used? – 4 th highest of longest and strongest suit? – Top of a sequence / internal sequence Consider leading THROUGH STRENGTH and UP TO WEAKNESS

Consider  A Q 9 5  K Q J 10 9  A  J  A 10 7 K  8 4  A 7 3  K 8 2  J 10 5  K 8 7 Q J 8 3   Q 6 3 North 1D 1NT EastP P South1H 3NT WestPass All pass What does West lead?

Keep leading your longest suit on defense  A Q  K Q J 10 9   J 5 4  K Q J  A 4    K J 5  K 8 6 A 8 3   A Q 6 3 Contract 3NT by S Opening lead K

Play Board 4 Defense example