DECLARER’S PLAY

After the opening lead has been made, and the dummy poker exposed cards, it is of first importance for the declarer, before he plays a card from dummy, to take stock of the position and decide upon the best way to play the cards.

In the deal below, against West’s contract of Three No-Trumps, North leads the ♠ Q. At first sight it may seem immaterial whether west wins the trick with the Ace in dummy or with the King in his own hand. In the event, it matters a lot in which hands he wins the trick.

If West gives consideration to the position he will appreciate that he must win the first trick with the ♠ K in his hand, win the ♣ K, Q, J, reach dummy, by leading the ♠ 4 to thecae, to win dummy’s Ace and ♣ 7, and finally the two red aces in his own hand.

If West wins the first poker trick with dummy’s ♠ A, he will lose the contract if the adverse clubs fail to divide three-two, because he has left himself with no side entry to the clubs.

When the declarer is playing a No-Trump contract, usually his first aim should be to establish his longest suit. In many cases, however, it is better to develop a short and strong suit rather than a long and weak one.

In the deal above, North leads a club against West’s contract of Three No-Trumps. Considerations slows that West’s best play is to win with the ♣ K and play on spades to knock out the Ace.

This way, West makes sure of his contract with three tricks in spades, three in hearts, one in diamonds and two in clubs. The diamond suit is longer than the spade suit, but West cannot develop East’s diamonds without first losing the lead twice.

By then the opponents playing styles will have set up the clubs and broken the contract; in any case, only three tricks in diamonds will be developed for eight in all, which is not enough.

In a suit contract, it is usually the right play for the declarer to draw the adverse trumps at the first opportunity. Trumps, however, should No-Trumps be drawn if there is a better use for them.

In the deal illustrated below, West plays in Four Hearts, and North leads a club. West wins the first trick with the ♣ A, and if he draws the trumps at once his contract will depend on the finesse of the ♠ Q being successful. It is no more than an even chance.

The contract is a certainty if West, after poker winning the first trick with the ♣ A, leads either the 7 or 3 of the suit. It does No-Trumps matter whether North or South wins the trick, or what card is returned.

Declarer wins the next trick and trumps a club in dummy. Now the adverse trumps may be drawn, and West comes to ten tricks with one spade, five hearts, two diamonds and one club by straight leads, and the ruff (trump) of a club on the table.

A valuable weapon in the armory of the declarer is the ability to manage a suit to make the most tricks out of it.

In this position it is vital to play poker the King first. Then, if either North or South is void of the suit, there is a marked finessing position over the Jack, ad five tricks will be made.