As laid out in the book "Larry Teaches Declarer Play at Notrump" and the DVD, these are the 4 steps to plan (you must plan!) the play in notrump:
1) How many sure tricks do we have?
2) How might we get more tricks?
3) What is the stopper situation?
4) Can I afford to lose the lead; what happens if the bad guys get in?
In this quiz, some of those questions are asked.
Updated December 2019
How many sure tricks does declarer have on the layout below?
KQJ
A7432
AQJ10
9 542 KQ K876 J1042Choose One:1. -6
2. -7
3. -8
4. -9
Answer: 27. 4 diamonds and 3 hearts.
Your result so far:Using the same layout (below), which suits might produce extra tricks and how many?
KQJ A7432 AQJ10 9 542 KQ K876 J1082Choose One:1. -Spades for 3 more, hearts for 2 more, clubs for 1 more.
2. -Spades for 2 more, hearts for 1 more, clubs for 1 more.
3. -Spades for 2 more, hearts for 1 or 2 more, clubs for 1 more.
4. -None of the above
Answer: 3Spades for 2 more, hearts for 1 or 2 more, clubs for 1 more.
Knocking out the
A would set up 2 tricks there. If hearts split 3-3 you can get 5 tricks in that suit (so 2 more than the 3 top tricks). If hearts split 4-2, you would have to lose a heart trick, but eventually the 5th heart would be good (for 1 more). The clubs would take a lot of work, but once the AKQ are gone, you'd have a club trick.Your result so far:Again, with the layout from Question #1 and #2, let's assume you are in 3NT and they lead the
J. What is the stopper situation and can you afford to lose the lead? KQJ A7432 AQJ10 9 542 KQ K876 J1082Choose One:1. -You have every suit stopped, but can't afford to lose the lead.
2. -You don't have every suit stopped, and can't afford to lose the lead.
3. -You don't have every suit stopped, but can afford to lose the lead.
4. -You do have every suit stopped, and you can afford to lose the lead.
Answer: 4You do have every suit stopped, and you can afford to lose the lead. There is no suit the opponents can run. Yes, they have the
A and the AKQ at any point, but only those top tricks; they can't run any suit. You can afford to lose the lead...more on that on the next question.Your result so far:With the same layout, you are still in 3NT with the
J lead. Based on your answers to questions 1-3, what is your plan? KQJ A7432 AQJ10 9 542 KQ K876 J1082Choose One:1. -Unblock the
KQ, cross in diamonds and try the A to see if hearts split.2. -Unblock the
KQ, cash 4 diamonds ending in dummy, then play the A.3. -Win the heart lead, and work on clubs.
4. -Win the heart lead and play spades.
Answer: 4Win the heart lead and play spades. Plans 1&2 are no good, because if hearts don't split, you are setting up the 5th trick for the defense. Plan 3 isn't bad, but why make it complicated? If you play clubs and they keep plugging away at hearts (maybe with J1098), they might be able to set up their 5th trick before you set up your 9th. Playing on spades sets up 2 more tricks to add to your sure 7, making 9. At some point, you will unblock the
KQ enabling you to easily take 9 tricks.Your result so far:Now you'll take a new set of hands for the next questions. The lead is the
5. 82 K104 KJ1052 K76 A63 A5 A86 QJ1095How many sure tricks do you have?
Choose One:1. -3
2. -4
3. -5
4. -6
5. -7
Answer: 35. You have one spade trick, two heart tricks, and two diamond tricks.
Your result so far:Now we'll continue with the same hand. The lead is the
5. 82 K104 KJ1052 K76 A63 A5 A86 QJ1095What suits might you use for more tricks and how many?
Choose One:1. -Hearts for 1 more, diamonds for four more, clubs for four more.
2. -Diamonds for three or four more, clubs for four more.
3. -Diamonds for two or three more, clubs for four more.
4. -Diamonds for two or three more, clubs for three more.
5. -Other.
Answer: 3Diamonds for two or three more tricks, clubs for four more. We start with two diamond tricks. If we win the finesse and the suit runs, we will take five total tricks for 3 additional tricks. If the finesse loses, we can still likely take four tricks total or 2 extra tricks beyond what we started with. Once we knock out the club ace, we will take four club tricks.
Your result so far:Now we'll continue with the same hand from problem 5. The lead is the
5. 82 K104 KJ1052 K76 A63 A5 A86 QJ1095Let's say East wins the Q on the first round and you hold up. Now East continues with the 10 on the second round, you hold up again and West plays the 4. East now plays a third round of spades. What is the stopper situation and can you afford to lose the lead?
Choose One:1. -You aren't worried about any stoppers and can afford to lose the lead.
2. -You are worried about spade stoppers and can't afford to lose the lead to either hand.
3. -You are worried about spade stoppers and can afford to lose the lead to East.
4. -Other.
Answer: 3You are worried about spade stoppers and can afford to lose the lead to East.
Your result so far:One last question for this layout. The lead is the
5. 82 K104 KJ1052 K76 A63 A5 A86 QJ1095What suit should you work on after holding up twice in spades?
Choose One:1. -Hearts.
2. -Diamonds.
3. -Clubs.
Answer: 3Clubs. You started with 5 sure tricks. Even if you successfully negotiate the diamonds, you will get up to only 8 tricks. You would still need to knock out the
A (and go down one if West has it, make if East has it). In other words, there is no gain (only loss) that can come from trying diamonds first (if you misguess and West has the A, you will be down 2 while if you guess right, you still will need to late knock out the A). It is better to knock out the A and not deal with diamonds.Your result so far: