Play the 10 to the J and then overtake the Q with the K.
Suit Establishment: how many entries? Michael hasin a trump contract: Take thisO’Loughlin side suit enjoyed teaching bridge #65432 " ♦ for over 40 years; his book, “Bridge: Basic Card Play” is Dummy available from the Contract Bridge Association of #K J 9 W " ♦ #A Q 10 8 " E ♦ Ireland (01 4929666), Declarer price:E10. #7 " ♦ Winning a trick may look far-fetched but on the expected 4-3 sp (62 per cent), you can set up and enjoy a fifth-round length winn lose the first round; you’ll get over to dummy in another suit (th entry) to ruff a second diamond; you’ll get over to dummy (that’ entry) to ruff a third diamond; you’ll get over to dummy (that’s a to ruff a fourth diamond. And you’ll need a fourth dummy entry fifth diamond.
Bridge
Calling all Novices – Intermediates! by Michael O’Loughlin
Entries
An Entry is a card which allows the shifting of the lead from one hand to the other. It provides a means of access into your own hand or into partner’s hand. An entry is like a taxi — you use it to get from one place to another. When you are developing extra tricks or eliminating extra losers, it’s often important to be able to get from one hand to the other with ease. An entry enables you to do so. The North hand is the dummy: North A63 --South
higher than the nine, and there is a smaller card, The number of entries required to set up a suit equal to the number of ruffs plus one (to get the 4, in declarer’s hand. Often there may be The number of entriesisback required to set up a suit is equal to the nu at the end). Take this side suit in a trump more than one entry within a given suit. Take plus one (to get contract: back at the end). Take this side suit in a tru the Ace and put it in theruffs dummy: North A92 K Q J 10 4 South
♣865432
♣??
Dummy W E Declarer
♣ ??
How would you play these cards, so that you ♣7 have two entries to the dummy? If you play the 4 and the Ace on the same trick, there’s only You don’t know how You thedon’t six opposing clubs will split. natu know how the six opposing clubs You’ll will one entry to the dummy. You have to make split. You’ll naturally hope for a 3-3 split but a a 3-3 split a you missing even number of cards does not usually s sure that, if the Ace is first used as anbut entry, missing even number of cards does not usually play an honour from declarer’s hand, a so36 thatper cent chance). You can hypothesise. (3-3 is just split evenly (3-3 is just a 36 per cent chance). there is still a card in declarer’s hand smaller You can hypothesise. than the 9. North A Q 10 KJ9 South
If you have four dummy entries, you can set up clubs if they split you have youtwo can set club; three club ruffs;Ifback at four thedummy end toentries, enjoy long cards). I up clubs if they split 4-2 (lose a club; three club three dummy entries, you’ll need clubs to split 3-3. If you have ruffs;can back at theabout end tosetting enjoy two cards). dummy entries, I’m afraid you forget uplong dummy’s clubs for ju
The Ace in dummy is no longer an entry, South because declarer, South, has a void in the suit. If you have three the lack of entries. I hope there’s a Plan B. dummy entries, you’ll need Not only must there be a winner in the dummy, clubs to split 3-3. If you have just two dummy Experiment see if you can getto three entries the dummy. PlayI’mthe 9 to but there must also be a smaller card to in declarExperiment see if you can get to three entries entries, afraid you can forget about setting er’s hand to lead to the winner. Give declarer at to the dummy. Play the 9 to dummy’s 10, then up dummy’s clubs dummy’s 10, then the J to dummy’s Q and, finally, overtake the K with for the lack of entries. I hope least one card in this suit: the J to dummy’s Q and, finally, overtake the there’s a Plan B. dummy’s A. How many entries do A.you declarer’s K with dummy’s Howhave manyto entries do you hand (South)? Two: North have to declarer’s hand (South)? Two:the PlayK. the Play the 10 to the J and then overtake the Q with dummy entries, I’m afraid you can forget A63 10 to the J and then overtake the Q with the K. the lack of entries. I hope there’s a Plan B 2 South Suit Establishment: how many
Suit Establishment: how many entries? entries? Now the 2 is the link to dummy. this side suit in a trump contract: Take this side suit in aTake trump contract: Let’s look at a different arrangement of cards: #65432 " ♦ North Dummy Q63 AK2 #K J 9 W " ♦ #A Q 10 8 " E ♦ South Declarer How could you get to the dummy (North)? Play #7 " ♦ the 2 and win the trick with the Queen. You Winning a trick may look but on the 4-3 split as above Winning a trick may look far-fetched butfar-fetched on thetheexpected might have to look carefully to identify an entry. West leads ♦ K, the top of a sequence. As usual, you, as declarer start by expected 4-3 split as above (62 per cent), you Let’s look at this layout: (62 per cent), you can can setset upupand enjoy a fifth-round length winner. your losers because you areYou’ll in a suit contract: dummy can help and enjoycounting a fifth-round length winlose the first round; you’ll getlose over dummy inget another suit (that’s ner. You’ll theto first round; you’ll over to losers, eliminate some of your but youone are still left with two losing Diamonds North in another suit (that’s one entry) to ruff 92 entry) to ruff a seconddummy diamond; you’ll get over to dummy (that’s a second and two losing Clubs: one loser too many. It’s often a good idea to doublea second diamond; you’ll get over to dummy A K Q J 10 4 entry) to ruff a third diamond; you’ll get over to dummy entry) check byacounting your (that’s winners:a2third winning Spades, 6 winning Hearts, 1 (that’s a second entry) to ruff third diamond; South to ruff a fourth diamond. And you’ll need a fourth dummy entry to enjoy you’ll get over to dummy (that’s a third entry) winning Diamond = 9,to1 trick short. The onlythe place from which the vital 10th West leads ♦ aK,sequence. the top of a sequence West leads theu K, the the top of Is there an entry to thefifth dummy? The 9 is an enruff a fourth diamond. And you’ll need a fourth diamond. trick can materialise is the long Spade suit in dummy. If the Spade suit breaks As usual, you, as declarer by counting try because the opponents don’t have a card dummy entry to enjoy the fifth diamond. counting yourstart losers because you are in a 3-3 you will be able to set up 2 extra Spades winners but if the Spades break eliminate some of your losers, 31 but you are Times l March - April 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie The number of entries required to set4-2up(more a suit is equal toSenior theable number of likely) you will be to set up the 1 extra trick you need but only and two losing Clubs: one loser too many. ruffs plus one (to get back at the end). Take this side suit in a trump contract:
