PLANNING AHEAD

"If you don't mind me saying so, Sir, it might be a good idea to try to make a plan when you're defending."

"D'ya think so, Jeeves?"

"Indeed I do, sir, indeed I do. Per example this hand from the Club Duplicate."

"When was that Jeeves?"

"Last night, Sir... If you can still recall...?"

"Oh yah, rather, Jeeves old fruit."

"As I recall, you held this hand and correctly opened a Weak 2 Diamonds:

xx

xxx

AKxxxx

xx

The bidding proceeded:

2D       -     2S -   PASS  -  3C

PASS  -    3NT  ALL PASS

I  led the 9D. This was Dummy:

Kx

Qxxx

Jx

AQxxx

You played the A, K  and a third diamond, declarer winning with the Q. Declarer took a losing S finesse into my hand, but alas I had no more D's and so was end-played with Declarer making a costly over-trick as a result."

"Dashed bad luck, eh, Jeevesy?"

"If I might suggest, sir -  there need be no element of luck in these matters at all. After a smidgin of thought."

"How so? Surely..."

"It's an open book, sir. First I did not support your D's therefore I most probably do not posses 3 of them. Therefore I must hold either 0, 1 or 2 of them. If I hold 0 or 1 there is precious little to be done. However if I hold 2 of them, as is likely on the lead, then declarer must surely hold Q10x. Consider the possibility of ducking at trick one. Then when Declarer takes his losing S finesse I still have a second D with which to maintain communication with your hand. I lead it, you NOW cash the A,K  and hey presto cash 3 more D's and declarer is now TWO off. Instead of plus 1!"

"Dashed clever. I say. Gosh. Now why didn't I think of a plan like that?"