Maxims for play of the hand

Question 1

Planning a No Trump contract

Answer 1

1. how many winners do you need?
2. count your winners
3. if needed, develop more
4. put it all together

Question 2

Planing a trump contract

Answer 2

1. how many losers can you afford ?
2. count your losers
3. if needed, reduce losers
4. put it all together

Question 3

What is a winner?

Answer 3

A winner is a card that will take a trick without giving up the lead.
It is a sure trick.

Question 4

What is a loser?

Answer 4

Losers are cards that are not sure tricks, not guaranteed to be winners.

Question 5

How do you develop more winners in a No Trump contract?

Answer 5

For No Trump:
- promote high cards
- establish long suits
- finesse

Question 6

How do you reduce losers in a Trump contract?

Answer 6

In Trumps:
- promote high cards
- establish long suits
- finesse
- discard losers on winners in other hand
- ruff losers on other hand
Other is the hand with fewer trumps, usually the dummy.

Question 7

Rules for entires

Answer 7

1. a link card ensures the winner does nit get stranded
2. play the high cards from the short suit first
3. Sometime you have to duck to preserve an entry

Question 8

Watch your opponents (putting it all together)

Answer 8

1. hold up your aces, disrupt link cards
2. avoid the dangerous opponent, keep them off lead from a finesse