more play in a suit

PLAY IN A SUIT 1

COUNT LOSERS BEFORE PLAYING TO 1st TRICK IF YOU HAVE TOO MANY LOSERS
TO MAKE THE CONTRACT THEN YOU HAVE TO GET RID OF SOME.

GETTING RID OF LOSERS
Before playing to the first trick the Declarer should count losers. If there are not enough losers to set the contract, then great. Play out the rest of the hand. If there are too many losers then some must be gotten rid of. How is this done? (Giving them away to a friend or a relative will not do.)

WAYS OF GETTING RID OF LOSERS trump | dump | finesse

DUMP LOSERS ON WINNERS

Another way of getting rid of losers is to Dump them on winners. The losers can be in Dummy or in Declarer's hand; and likewise the winners can be in Dummy or in Declarer's hand. Sometimes it might be necessary to set up the winning suit by taking a finesse; trumping a low card; or promoting winners by knocking out high cards. In the following examples Spades are trump; declarer on lead.

Don't worry; it's not that terrible.
Next time you'll pull trump sooner.

	1. DUMMY MMM A 5 4 2 MMM 6 MMM 8 DECLARER MMM K 7 6 MMM 9 MMM A K	EXAMPLE 1. Play the A then the K and dump the 6. Then the 9 can be trumped in dummy. Note: the imbalance in the Clubs - two opposite one - make dumping the 6 possible.
	2. DUMMY MMMQ 7 2 MMM A Q MMM 7 DECLARER MMM A K 8 5 MMM 9 MMM 6	EXAMPLE 2. If you can lose a trick and still make the contract then play it safe: do not take the Diamond finesse. Play the A and lose a Club. But if you need the rest of the tricks then take the Diamond finesse. If it wins play the A and dump the 6. Note: the imbalance in the Diamonds.
	3. DUMMY MMM J 10 9 8 3 MMM A K 7 MMM 2 DECLARER MMM A K Q MMMQ 7 6 5 4 MMM 3	EXAMPLE 3. Play the Diamonds. (Ace/King first) If the J falls and the suit breaks 3/2 then dump the 2 on a winning Diamond. But if the J does not fall and the suit breaks 4/1 then trump a Diamond in dummy; get back to your hand with a trump and use a winning Diamond to dump the 2.
	4. DUMMY MMM A Q 10 MMM A 7 MMM A 2 DECLARER MMM K J MMM Q J 3 MMM 5 4	EXAMPLE 4. Take the Diamond finesse. If it wins you will lose a Club. If the finesse loses, win the next trick then play the A. Get back to your hand with a trump and play the J. Finally, dump the 2 on the J..

QUIZ 20 PLAYING IN A SUIT

1.

NORTH

K 7
Q J 9 3
A K Q
6 5 4 3 NORTH
DEALS

WEST

Q J 10 9
6 4
10 9 7 4
K 10 9

EAST

A 8 4 3
8 5
J 8 3 2
J 8 7 BID COUNT
PLAN PLAY

SOUTH

6 5 2
A K 10 7 2
6 5
A Q 2

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2.

NORTH

K 5 3 2
10 3
K Q 3
A 10 8 2 NORTH
DEALS

WEST

6 4
K Q 8 4
10 9 6 4
9 7 4

EAST

A 9
A 9 7 6
J 8 5 2
Q J 6 BID COUNT
PLAN PLAY

SOUTH

Q J 10 8 7
J 5 2
A 7
K 5 3 SOUTH
DEALS

ANSWERS to Quiz 20