#6 East West Vulnerable
North East South West
Pass 1NT Pass 2♣
Pass 2♠ Pass 3NT
AP
South leads the ♣3. West plays the ♣6.
North plays the ♣Q and wins the trick.
What is North’s plan?
North
♠ A Q J 2
♥ J 10 8 3
♦ 9 5 4
♣ Q 4
West Dummy East Declarer
♠ K 10 5 ♠
♥ K 7 5 2 ♥
♦ J 3 ♦
♣ K J 9 6 ♣
South
♠
♥
♦
♣ 3
When the ♣Q holds, it is possible to count declarer’s points and tricks. Dummy has 11 HCP and declarer has 15-17, so assume 16 HCP – giving your opponents 27 HCP and your side 13 HCP. You have 10 HCP so your partner (already turning up with the ♣A) is all in. Time to count declarer’s tricks: declarer has all of the missing red-suit honors – three heart tricks, and likely four diamond tricks. Furthermore, declarer can set up two more club tricks for nine unless you take action! Shift to a low spade at trick 2! When partner gets in with the ♣A and returns a spade, you take three spades and two clubs for down 1!
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