Chapter 8
Overcoming Don't Have Entries, You Ain't Got Nothing
© 2004 - Marty Bergen
Page 85
Life in Notrump
If You
Don’t Have Entries, You Ain’t Got Nothing
"Failing to prepare
is preparing to fail."
Vince Lombardi, legendary football coach
If I had to single
out the most important topic on cardplay, there is no question
in my mind –
entries. How many times have you heard someone lament about
being "stuck in the wrong hand?"
On many deals,
there is an opportunity to make a key play to ensure that
declarer has the entries that he needs. Unfortunately, key plays
are not always obvious. At that special moment, it would be nice
if:
-
A bell would go
off;
-
Someone would
stand up and yell "alert!"
-
A little bird
would chirp "now" in your ear;
-
A guardian angel
would appear to protect you from yourself.
Alas, no such luck;
declarer is always on his own.
Entry
considerations are especially critical in notrump contracts when
the trick source is in the weak hand.
Marty Sez:
Declarer must make sure that at least one entry remains in the
weak hand until the long suit is ready to run.
© 2004 - Marty Bergen
Page 86
Life in Notrump
On the following
deal, not only was declarer’s key suit in the weak hand, but in
addition, the suit blocked. Fortunately, declarer demonstrated
that he needed no help with his key play.
"How could you play
your ace on my king?" said the amazed dummy. "Trust me,"
declarer said, "I have a good plan." Indeed he did.
Contract: 3NT
Lead:
 K |
|
North
A 4 3 2
K
A Q J
A Q 6 5 3 |
|
| |
West
K
Q J 9
7
5 4
9 8 6 2
J 8 |
|
East
10 8
Q
6 3 2
5 4 3
K 10 9 2 |
| |
|
South
7
6 5
A
J 10 9 8
K 10 7
7 4 |
|
West North East
South
--
1
Pass 1
Pass 2
Pass 2NT
Pass
3NT All Pass
© 2004 - Marty Bergen
Page 87
Life in Notrump
West had an obvious
spade lead, even though North had bid the suit. Although there
are exceptions to almost everything, I have strong feelings
about sequence leads. When I’m on lead and have a sequence in a
suit, I think: "Thank you, Lord," for solving my potential
opening lead dilemma.
Declarer allowed
West to win the first trick with the
K,
and won the spade continuation with dummy’s ace. He could only
count 7 winners: 1 spade, 1 club,
2 hearts and 3 diamonds. How should he proceed to guarantee the
contract?
Declarer led the
K
and overtook it with his ace, causing his partner to gasp. But,
it was then easy to set up his hearts by forcing out the queen
while the
K
remained as the vital entry back to his hand.
It was crucial for
South to overtake the
K
with his
A.
If he hadn’t, there would be no way to win more than two heart
tricks. Because he was still on the board, he would not have the
two outside entries he needed; one to knock out the
Q
and the other to
re-enter his hand to run hearts. Without four heart tricks,
declarer could not make 3NT.
"Well-played," said
North after 3NT rolled home. "Would you like to play again?"
You must admit – this dummy was no dummy.
© 2004 - Marty Bergen
Chapter 9 :Drawing
Trumps: All, Some, or None ........... 93
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