Practice Hand 4 · Declarer Play · Deal 1 from Bridge Self-Study Companion Guide, Ch. 21, Group 5
You already have nine tricks on paper. Why not just take them?
North · Dummy
13 HCP
South · Declarer
16 HCP
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | — | 1NT |
| Pass | 3NT | Pass | Pass |
| Pass | — | — | — |
Solution
Count sure winners first: 1 spade, 2 hearts, 4 diamonds, 2 clubs = 9 top tricks once diamonds behave. The tricks are there — the danger isn't in reaching 9, it's in who's on lead if something goes wrong along the way.
If East ever gains the lead — say diamonds don't split the way you hope — a hold-up means East has no spade left to fire back through your remaining stopper. Win too early, and a spade returned through your hand can run for several tricks before you can stop it.
Ducking twice costs no tricks — the ace was always going to win a spade trick eventually. All it does is exhaust one defender's supply of the suit before you start touching anything risky.
Want all 30 practice deals?
The Bridge Self-Study Companion Guide includes 30 complete practice deals across every convention in the main guide — each with guided bidding questions and a full worked solution.
Available now on AmazonAlso from Srivastava Bridge Press: A Bridge Guide for Beginners and Intermediate Players — the main guide with 15 practice deals and 90+ worked examples.