Tip: DO go for your extra tricks before cashing your top tricks
Tip: DO go for your extra tricks before cashing your top tricks
Liken the play of a bridge hand to the fable of the race between the tortoise and the hare. The hare declarer loves to take tricks quickly and will score his aces and other top tricks immediately. He rarely makes any tricks later on, though, for he has promoted all the defence’s queens and jacks.
The tortoise, on the other hand, is more patient and knows the aces will not run away. He devotes his early attention to establishing extra tricks and so ends up with more than the hare. As you have guessed, you must play like a tortoise not like a hare.
South Deals
None Vul |
♠ |
A 7 5 3 |
♥ |
3 2 |
♦ |
A 5 3 |
♣ |
J 8 5 4 |
|
♠ |
Q 10 8 6 2 |
♥ |
J 9 5 |
♦ |
Q 10 4 |
♣ |
K 6 |
|
|
|
|
|
♠ |
J |
♥ |
Q 10 8 6 |
♦ |
J 9 7 2 |
♣ |
A Q 7 3 |
|
|
|
♠ |
K 9 4 |
♥ |
A K 7 4 |
♦ |
K 8 6 |
♣ |
10 9 2 |
|
West |
North |
East |
South |
|
|
|
1 NT |
Pass |
Pass |
Pass |
|
After winning ♠ J with ♠ K, the hare would immediately cash ♠ A, ♥ AK and ♦ AK. He would make the first six tricks...but no more. The tortoise wins ♠ J with ♠ K and counts six top tricks but does not play them out, instead trying to establish a seventh in clubs – where he has a four-card sequence and three higher cards to force out. He leads ♣ 10 to ♣ K, wins ♠ Q with ♠ A, leads ♣ 5 to East’s ♣ Q. He wins ♥ 6 return with ♥ K, leads ♣ 9 to ♣ A, wins ♥ 8 with ♥ A, crosses to ♦ A and enjoys the promoted ♣ J, his extra trick. ♦ K is his seventh trick – contract made.
South Deals
None Vul |
♠ |
J 4 |
♥ |
9 6 3 |
♦ |
A 8 6 4 |
♣ |
A K J 5 |
|
♠ |
K 8 7 |
♥ |
Q 10 8 2 |
♦ |
J |
♣ |
9 7 4 3 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
♠ |
A 9 5 3 2 |
♥ |
J 5 |
♦ |
Q 10 9 2 |
♣ |
10 8 |
|
|
|
♠ |
Q 10 6 |
♥ |
A K 7 4 |
♦ |
K 7 5 3 |
♣ |
Q 6 |
|
West |
North |
East |
South |
|
|
|
1 NT |
Pass |
3 NT |
Pass |
Pass |
Pass |
|
|
|
On West’s ♥ 2 lead (preferred to the longer but weaker clubs after N-S had no major-suit investigation) declarer could count eight top tricks (♥ AK, ♦ AK, ♣ AKQJ). The hare would play them out – and make no more – down one. The tortoise saw the spade sequence – and a ninth trick – winning ♥ J with ♥ K and leading ♠ 6. East beat ♠ J with ♠ A and led ♥ 5. Declarer won ♥ A and led ♠ Q. West could win ♠ K and cash ♥ Q10, but ♠ 10 was his extra – and game-going – trick.