It is always a good plan to mentally check the outstanding trumps before playing to the first trick. If you do so you realise that these trumps are 2, 4, 5, 6, and Q. In addition you can ruff the (likely) opening lead of a club; then lead a diamond to East’s Ace and ruff a second club, now lead a Heart to East’s Ace and ruff the third club. Now lead a diamond to the ace, followed by the spade ace (in case the spade Queen falls) and the spade Jack. This brings home game making three Club tricks, two Diamond tricks, one Heart trick and four spade tricks. You are able to visualise at the outset that providing the red suits don’t split abnormally and that the trumps are not worse than 4:1 you have a very good chance of making 10 tricks.

Results

2SE +3; 2NTE =; 3SE -1; 4CN -2; 4SN -1 (twice); 5CN* -3

N-S 1^st E Rodrigus & R Wood………...62.2 % 

       2^nd G Dempers & N Wood………..58.9%

E-W 1^st J Tagg & E Jurgensen………..58.0%

        2^nd D Humphrey & D De Coning...54.8%