KQ32 974 KJ73 K5
8 KJ65 9542 T972		765 AT32 AQT8 Q4
	AJT94 Q8 6 AJ863

South	West	North	East
1	Pass	2NT*	Pass
3*	Pass	4	Pass
Pass	Pass

Opening Lead: 5

North’s 2NT is a forcing raise in spades promising 4 or more and an opening hand (known as Jacoby 2NT). South’s next call is to show shortness if she has any. Opposite a singleton or void North’s trick taking potential in diamonds just disappeared unless partner’s singleton is the Ace or Queen. North signs off in 4 spades.

Count losers in a suit contract (my students get very tired of hearing this!).
There are 3 in the red suits. What are you going to do to make sure there are none in clubs?

Use the “short” trump to ruff losers. That’s one of the main reasons to play in a suit contract. And check out all those EQUALS in trump. Win the first trick you can. Cash the King and Ace of clubs and ruff the third round HIGH! Come back to your hand and ruff another club HIGH in dummy. Now lead the last trump to your hand, pull the remaining trump and enjoy your long clubs.

NOTE: If the opponent hold an EVEN number of cards in a suit, the rate to break oddly (i.e. 3-1, 4-2, etc.). If they hold an ODD number of cards in a suit, they rate to divide EVENLY (i.e. 2-1, 3-2, etc.).

Do not take the chance of trumping the third round of clubs with the 2. Especially when the card gods provided such a solid suit.