Counting Tricks

As declarer it is important to develop a plan to make your contract before you start to play the cards. See if you can plan these deals correctly by answering each question as South.

1.	A J 10 5			West	North	East	South
None vul	Q 2						1 NT
	5 4 3			Pass	2	Pass	2
	A 8 6 4			Pass	3 NT	Pass	Pass
				Pass
Lead: 6
	6 4 3
	A 10 7
	A K Q 6
3 NT South	K 10 3

How many top tricks do you have in spades? 

…in hearts? 

…in diamonds? 

…in clubs? 

How many additional tricks do you need to make your contract? 

How many additional tricks are possible in spades? 

…in hearts? 

…in diamonds? 

…in clubs? 

Which heart do you play from dummy at trick one? 

Which suit do you plan to work on first to obtain additional tricks? 

Quit

Top Counting Tricks

2.	Q J 8 4			West	North	East	South
E-W vul	7 3				1	Pass	2 NT
	A K 9 4			Pass	3 NT	Pass	Pass
	A 10 3			Pass
Lead: K
	A K 3
	A Q 2
	7 6 3
3 NT South	9 8 7 2

How many top tricks do you have in spades? 

…in hearts? 

…in diamonds? 

…in clubs? 

How many additional tricks do you need to make your contract? 

How many additional tricks are possible in spades? 

…in hearts? 

…in diamonds? 

…in clubs? 

Which club do you play from dummy at trick one? 

Which suit do you plan to work on first to obtain additional tricks? 

Quit

Top Counting Tricks

3.	K J			West	North	East	South
Both vul	K Q 4						1
	A J 7 2			Pass	3	Pass	4
	9 8 6 4			Pass	Pass	Pass
Lead: 2
	7 6 5
	A J 10 9 7
	K 4 3
4 South	A 2

How many top tricks do you have in spades? 

…in hearts? 

…in diamonds? 

…in clubs? 

How many additional tricks do you need to make your contract? 

How many additional tricks are possible in spades? 

…in hearts? 

…in diamonds? 

…in clubs? 

Which spade do you play from dummy at trick one? 

Which suit do you plan to work on first to obtain additional tricks? 

Quit

Top Counting Tricks

© 1990 Richard Pavlicek