Ethics and Helpful Hints  - Helpful Hints - (4) June 2011

NO TRUMP PLAY

When Dummy is put down do not rush - look carefully at your hand and dummy

Count the number of tricks you can take immediately (top tricks).   If you have enough to make your Contract - take them.  However, if you do not have enough

Tricks to make your Contract do NOT play out any of your winners yet.

Decide from which suit you will try to make your extra tricks (this is usually the suit in which you hold the most cards between the two hands) and attack that suit first while you still have high cards to protect your other suits.  When you can count enough tricks to make your contract then take them.

If your opponents lead a suit in which you hold only one stopper it is usual to duck the trick for as long as possible trying to exhaust at least one opponent (usually the partner of the opponents who has led the suit) of his supply of that suit.

To keep control push out your high cards before enjoying any of your winning cards in other suits.

If there is only one way to make 9 tricks you have to try it, however, if it is a finesse,

take your long suit first and squeeze the opposition as long as possible, but KEEP

Control.   Should you be able to do the finesse either way this gives you a little time to try and work out who may have the vital card.

Madeline Lawson

Chief Director