Normally in suit contracts we count losers and in NT contracts, winners. From there agonize about how to decrease or increase that amount to our satisfaction. But it is not always so:
| | ♠ | Q |
|---|
| ♥ | T 6 4 3 |
|---|
| ♦ | A K J 9 3 |
|---|
| ♣ | 8 7 3 |
|---|
|
| ♠ | J T 7 6 |
|---|
| ♥ | Q 9 2 |
|---|
| ♦ | 2 |
|---|
| ♣ | K T 9 6 4 |
|---|
|  | | ♠ | K 8 4 3 |
|---|
| ♥ | J 8 7 5 |
|---|
| ♦ | Q 7 5 |
|---|
| ♣ | Q 5 |
|---|
|
| | ♠ | A 9 5 2 |
|---|
| ♥ | A K |
|---|
| ♦ | T 8 6 4 |
|---|
| ♣ | A J 2 |
|---|
|
A small spade lead sees you longing for 3NT, until the diamonds don't break. 3NT is doomed but how are you going to make 5
♦? It would appear that there are 3 losers; two in clubs and that pesky, didn't drop when it was supposed to, trump queen.
Count your winners, the two black aces, two top trumps, the top hearts and 5 ruffs is eleven!
Play it out. Win the lead, draw two trumps, cash everything that will cash, ruff everything that won't and you'll be left with two small clubs opposite Jx and 11 tricks.
This sort of thing is called a trick compression, the poor defense make their three defensive tricks in the space of two defensive tricks. Effectively you lost one trick twice!
On to the bidding challenge. You're playing matchpoints, everyone is vulnerable, partner opens 1
♥, RHO passes and you are playing
SAYC:
| ♠ | A Q J 3 |
|---|
| ♥ | 4 |
|---|
| ♦ | K T 9 7 5 2 |
|---|
| ♣ | 8 2 |
|---|
