ay 5-7
Both Vulnerable
South West North East
Pass Pass 1♥ Pass
1NT AP
West leads the ♠3.
What’s South’s plan?
North (Dummy)
♠ K 6 4
♥ A Q 9 5 3
♦ 10 5 3
♣ A 4
South (Declarer)
♠ A 10
♥ 6 4
♦ J 8 6 4
♣ Q J 10 9 3
This is an “entry management” hand.
A good habit to add to your declarer plan in a notrump contract is to count your sure winners and find the working suit before playing to trick one. South needs seven tricks to make the contract. South is looking at four sure winners ~ two spades, one heart and one club. Three additional tricks are needed and they are clearly coming from the club suit ~ergo, the working suit.
But not so fast! Notice that the ♠A is the only entry to South’s hand once clubs are set up. If South wins the first trick with the ♠A (high card from the short side), then the good clubs will no longer be enjoyed due to a lack of entry. The key on this hand is to win the first spade trick with the ♠K and preserve the ♠A as an entry to the good clubs once declarer sets them up by playing ♣A and another club.
Take a look at the entire hand:
North (Dummy)
♠ K 6 4
♥ A Q 9 5 3
♦ 10 5 3
♣ A 4
West East
♠ Q 9 8 3 ♠ J 7 5 2
♥ 10 8 ♥ K J 7 2
♦ K Q 7 ♦ A 9 2
♣ K 8 6 2 ♣ 7 5
South (Declarer)
♠ A 10
♥ 6 4
♦ J 8 6 4
♣ Q J 10 9 3
Let me hear your comments!
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