We learn to count in first- and second-grade, but somehow this basic skill deserts many bridge players in the heat of battle.

West leads a low Heart and East (correctly) inserts the Jack.  Two more Hearts are cashed, followed by a trump shift.  “Rats!” mutters Declarer, who had been planning to cross-ruff the entire hand, scoring all nine trumps separately.  Those ruffs, plus the ♦A, would be enough to fulfill the contract.  But, after the trump return, the cross-ruff leaves Declarer a trick short, so it’s time for Plan B.

None Vulnerable

Good Declarers also routinely count the HCP that appear in the opponents’ hands … closely related to Remembering the Auction.

Our Declarer’s (faulty) Plan B was to set up Dummy’s Diamonds.  He won the trump return in hand, cashed the ♦A, then Club ruff, Diamond ruff, Club ruff, Diamond ruff.  This line of play required good breaks (such as Spades 2-2 and Diamonds 3-3, or failing that the doubleton ♦K).  But Declarer’s luck was out and, as the cards lie, it was impossible to enjoy those long Diamonds.

 Our second-graders need no luck, instead they’ll do some counting:

1. -N-S have 23 HCP, so the other guys have 17

2. -In the Heart suit East showed up with 5 of those 17 missing HCP

3. -West opened the bidding and surely has the remaining 12 HCP

Once Declarer realizes that West has the missing high cards (obviously including the ♣A and ♣Q), it’s routine to win the trump return in hand, and take ruffing finesses against West’s high Clubs.  Declarer leads the ♣K which is covered by the Ace and ruffed.  Back to hand with a trump.  Then the ♣J is led, and run around if West declines to cover.  When the dust has cleared, Declarer will have scored 5 trumps in his hand, plus two Club ruffs in Dummy, plus two Club tricks, and the ♦A.  10 easy tricks for the second-graders!

This post is courtesy of: BRIDGE BITES from the American Contract Bridge League by Brian Gunnell