Establish first and cash second

H.L. Hunt, a Texas oil tycoon who had three wives and 15 children, said, “Decide what you want; decide what you are willing to exchange for it. Establish your priorities and go to work.”

That is a reasonable plan for a bridge player, especially when in a no-trump contract.

Take today’s deal, for example. How should South proceed in three no-trump after West leads a low spade?

South might rebid two hearts. If he does, North could cue-bid two spades to ask South to bid no-trump with a stopper or two in spades, or could rebid three diamonds.

When in no-trump, always count your top tricks, your immediate winners. Here, South has seven: one spade (given the first trick) and six diamonds. He needs two more tricks, which can come from the majors. However, it is vital to establish those winners now.

At trick two, South should lead his heart king. If West plays low, declarer must lead a spade to get his ninth trick in that suit.

It is an interesting exercise to lay this deal out on your table and see what happens if South takes all of dummy’s diamond winners immediately.

Finally, note that if the red suits were exchanged, giving North a solid six-card heart suit, the bidding would probably end in four hearts after one diamond (one spade) - two hearts - two no-trump four hearts. But that contract has four losers: one spade, one diamond and two clubs. With a solid minor, we always think about three no-trump. Perhaps with a solid major and no singleton or void, it might be a good idea to aim there also.