Perhaps the most important ingredient in the dummy play of a NT contract is securing communication. Since there are no ruffing entries to help in crossing to and fro between the two hands, it is absolutely vital that a proper schedule be kept in mind for communication between the 2 hands in a NT contract. This requires foresight, good assessment of opponents' possible distribution and a well chalked out timing of the hand in a manner that eases the flow of entries from one hand to another. Those of us not too well versed in communication often end up on the wrong side regretting the failure to secure communication.

Let us learn by example. NS hold the following hand: South opened 1NT, north invited by 2NT whereupon south bid the game of 3NT. West led the KD and now putting you in the declarer's seat as south, how do you go about making 3NT on this combined 26 HCP - the ideal bench mark of bidding 3NT.

As you can see there are 7 top tricks - 3 in hearts, 3 in clubs and 1 in diamonds. You therefore need 2 more. One possibility is to try for the KS to be right placing the ace on your right. But the more self-assuring suit to provide the extra tricks is the long club suit. Of course if clubs break even 2-2 or even 3-1, there is no problem. But the snag can be a 4-0 club break that can cause multiple problems for you should be aware that already the opponents have made a deadly opening lead launching an attack on dummy's only side entry that was the key factor in assuring the long run of clubs. But do you see the far bigger snag besides this? Yes, - the small clubs in your hand 9 & 7, are still pretty high enough to block the running of the suit in dummy. Of course with a 4-0 club break, you stand no chance, but if the break is 3-1, there is still some hope of making 3NT even though with the diamond ace entry removed, there would be hardly any chance of reaching the dummy for the established 5th club on the table.

While in Bridge it is a common practice to give up a trick early to establish proper communication in the suit between the 2 hands. Of course this would be effective only if there was no immediate danger of the opponents running away with the contract by their established long suit. The logic behind this is quite simple. By giving the opponents an early opportunity to have their mandatory trick you succeed in keeping them off lead towards the end of the play and thereby you gain a tactical advantage of having that extra measure of control. This in Bridge is the key component of success, for failure in a NT contract comes only when you as declarer lose control and the opponents can then outsmart you in the race to win the maximum tricks. For it is only by keeping control that you would be in a position where you can steer the play in which ever desired direction you want without any fear or hindrance to assure the contract.

This problem is further aggravated by the fact that the small pips in your club suit are causing a serious choking of your club suit and thereby jeopardizing your contract of 3NT. The vital question that should crop up immediately in your mind as declarer is how to overcome the blockage? Yes - now you see the light. The only way is to allow west to win the first trick. If he switches well, will enough for you to keep the diamond ace as an entry to the 5th club. If he continues diamonds, let him win the 2nd and 3rd trick too with his queen and jack. Winning all 3, west may now switch to hearts as W-E held:

You win the heart switch, play off AQ of clubs, and follow with the club to the king to play DA for discarding the blockage of the 4th club in your hand. Winning all 5 clubs, plus 3 hearts and the AD give you your 3NT contract. Had west continued with the 4th diamond, the result would still be the same with the club blockage discarded first. Here the foresight to see far ahead was the recipe of success at trick 1 by rendering unto Ceaser that which is Ceaser's.

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North          South

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J 6            K 9 4

7 4            A K Q

A 6 3 2        8 5 4

K 6 5 4 2    A Q 9 7

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West                 East

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A 8 3          Q 10 7 5 2

J 6 5 2          10 9 8 3

K Q J 10 9              7

J                  10 8 3

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