Basic Strategy for 3NTby Jim Kaplan

When you’re declaring a 3NT contract, don’t just take every available trick you see. First, count up the number of sure tricks. If they add up to nine or more, you’re home free. But if they don’t — and this is usually the case — determine where extra tricks can be created and go after them.

This means that you have to lose tricks before you win them.

Case in point: North is dealing, with no one vulnerable:

                             NORTH
                             S Q J 10 6 5
                             H J 10 3
                             D J 4
                             C A 9 6
     WEST                                                EAST
     S K 4 3                                             S A 7 2
     H 9 8 4                                             H 7 2
     D 10 8 3 2                                          D Q 9 7 5 
     C K 8 4                                             C Q 10 5 3
                             SOUTH
                             S 9 8
                             H A K Q 6 5
                             D A K 6
                             C J 7 

The bidding proceeded as follows:

     North            East            South             West
     Pass             Pass            1NT               Pass
     2H•              Pass            2S                Pass
     3NT              All Pass

• Transfer to spades showing 5+

Opening lead: diamond 10

Granted, some pairs were playing in 4H, which will make if you can throw a club loser on a spade winner. In any case, the principle of building spade winners also applies in 3NT.

The opening lead went 10, jack, queen, king. Declarer then cashed five hearts before finally leading spades. East won with the ace and knocked out dummy’s club-ace entry. With spades never established, South went down one.

Before playing a single card, declarer should count up sure tricks: five hearts, two diamonds and one club for eight. The most logical suit for a ninth trick is spades. Therefore, lead one at Trick Two.

Let’s say East wins with the ace and knocks out the last diamond stopper. South will drive out West’s spade king. The defenders can cash two diamonds and lead a club, but it will be too late. South will make five hearts, two diamonds, one spade and one club for nine tricks.

East-West can complicate things if East switches to clubs at Trick Three, but North-South still have a way home. When West plays the king — always play the lowest card possible — you can be sure East has the queen-10 and your jack is safe. Therefore, win with the ace and continue on your merry way.

If West wins the first spade lead and returns a club, duck. If East wins the queen and returns a club you know she does not have the king so you play low. If West wins the king, your jack is good. If West has the 10 and plays it, let him hold it and win the third round.

By any measure, South makes the contract by creating new tricks instead of cashing old ones.