Learn · Lesson 2
Setting up a long suit
When dummy has a long suit and no other way in, lose the trick you must lose early, while you can still get back to dummy.
Step 1
The idea
A long suit in dummy can give you several extra tricks once the defenders have run out of it. But you usually have to lose a round of the suit first.
If dummy has no ace or king in another suit, timing is everything: lose that round while you still hold a card in the suit to lead across to dummy later.
- Use it when
- Dummy has a long suit and no entry outside it.
- How
- Duck the first round, keeping a small card in your hand to reach dummy afterwards.
- Watch for
- How the suit must break. With five cards missing, a 3-2 break is the most likely.
Step 2
Plan the hand
You are South in 3NT. West leads the Q♠. Before you play a card, work through the checklist: try each question, then check your answer.
1NT – Pass – 3NT
Lead: Q♠
Step 3
Watch it done
Before you play it yourself, see the whole hand played: the plan first, then one trick at a time. Nothing moves on until you tap Next.
Step 4
Play it yourself
Now it is your turn. Play the hand yourself, every card, against defenders who never make a mistake. It is a practice hand: no clock, no score, nothing on the ladder.
Use Hint if you are stuck and Take back to try again. If you play a card that loses the contract, you will be told why.
Tip: on a phone, turn it sideways to play. When you finish, Back to the lesson brings you back here to finish the lesson.
Remember
- Count: Six top tricks; three more must come from dummy's hearts.
- The danger: Dummy has no entry outside hearts, so its winners can be stranded.
- The plan: Duck the first heart, and keep your second heart to reach dummy later.
Now try it for real
The first hand of Challenge 14 in Declarer Challenge uses the same idea, with new cards. It is timed and scored, and goes on the ladder.