Suit establishment via ruffing finesse proves superior to relying on ‘sure thing’ finesse
Use of cue-bid, opposed to Blackwood, results in expert deduction on value of shortage
Picturing any layout where you might succeed better than mere capitulation
Hunt for overtrick costs dearly
Almost completely safe suit establishment brings home the grand
In NT contracts, 10s, 5-card suits, and 109 combinations are all worth additions to your valuation
Ensure your own certain ruff before embarking on speculative uppercut for partner
Bidding reveals shape and likely point count, and guides defender to best line
Be certain partnership is familiar with basic, key, bidding methods
Thin slam makes easily on one lead; proves much more challenging on neutral trump beginning
Simple hold-up play solves seemingly impossible problem
With so many gaps, no drawing of trumps: here, three of them in hand for ruffs will prove crucial
Cross-ruff, opposed to trump-drawing, offers near certainty of success
In times of adversity, play out trumps, and watch out for anxiety
Hands must be valued correctly to stand a chance of bidding 25pt slam
As the hand with certain entries, retain cards in long suit until declarer has lost stoppers
With no outside entry, means of access must be retained in the suit led
Inaccurate defence allows prepared declarer time to counter
When pre-empting, be especially aggressive when opponents have yet to describe their hands
Defender imagines declarer’s line of play — and then counters it with switch
Understand declarer’s plan, then try to counter it
Declarer forms idea of suit layout early on, and then commits to it
Partner of the leader should always take time at trick one
Knowledge of expert bid leads to excellent slam
4-4 fit, with a hidden 6-card outside suit: a very playable hand pattern
