Chapter 13
Counting Winners in Suit Contracts
© 2006 - Marty Bergen
Page 143
Counting Winners in Suit Contracts
The
Right Time to Count Winners
Although you usually count losers in a suit contract, on some
deals, counting winners is easier and more helpful. This is
especially true when:
a)
the contract is a part-score or slam; or
b)
the trump suit is shaky; or
c)
you are planning to crossruff.
For
example:
Contract: 2
Lead:
 K |
|
North
--
9
8 7 6 4 2
K 2
K 7 5 4 2 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
South
A
7 6 5 4 3
--
A 10 6 4
A J 3 |
|
|
West North
East South
--
-- --
1
Pass
1NT
Pass 2
Pass
2
Pass
2
All Pass
© 2006- Marty Bergen
Page 144
Counting Winners in Suit Contracts
You were unable to find your club fit and
languished in the inelegant 6-0 spade “fit.” Your straight flush
would have been more useful if playing poker. However,
you do have an opportunity
to demonstrate the right way to make the most of an inadequate
trump suit.
You have no chance to set up dummy’s clubs
and draw
trumps, so you should turn your attention to counting winners.
You have five winners in top cards, so all you need for your
contract is to win three of your small trumps. Thanks to West’s
heart lead and North’s two entries, as long as clubs and hearts
split normally, you can win those tricks by ruffing hearts.
Here’s how you should play:
Trick 1: Ruff the opening lead with the
3.
Tricks 2-3: Cash the
A
and lead a club to dummy’s king.
Whenever you are intending to do a lot of ruffing, you should
cash your side-suit winners ASAP.
Trick 4: Ruff a heart with the
4.
Tricks 5-6: Cash the
A
and
lead a
diamond to dummy’s king.
Trick 7: Ruff a heart with the
5.
You have succeeded in winning the first seven
tricks,and still have the
A.
Well done.
© 2006- Marty Bergen
Page 145
Counting
Winners in Suit Contracts
Here
is the entire deal:
Contract: 2
Lead:
K |
|
North
--
9
8 7 6 4 2
K 2
K 7 5 4 2 |
|
|
| |
West
K
J 8 2
K
Q J
J 8 5
Q 10 6 |
|
East
Q
10 9
A
10 5 3
Q 9 7 3
9 8 |
|
| |
|
South
A
7 6 5 4 3
--
A 10 6 4
A J 3 |
|
|
West North
East South
--
-- --
1
Pass
1NT
Pass 2
Pass
2
Pass
2
All Pass
By the
way: Over the years, I have encountered players who always
find counting winners in a suit contract to be more helpful for
them. While I don’t recommend going that far, if it works
for you, go for it.
© 2006 - Marty Bergen
Chapter 14:
Good Guys, Bad Guys ................................. 151
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