1 00:00:01,600 --> 00:00:03,000 Hi everybody. 2 00:00:03,100 --> 00:00:10,400 A strange thing about Bridge is that the higher the contract, 3 00:00:10,500 --> 00:00:13,100 often the easier it is to play. 4 00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:18,000 So, if you are in a contract of 6NT or 7NT, 5 00:00:18,100 --> 00:00:19,900 those hands are often very easy. 6 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:22,000 You take all your tricks, 7 00:00:22,100 --> 00:00:23,100 and maybe you have to lose the lead once, 8 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:25,400 maybe you take a finesse, 9 00:00:25,500 --> 00:00:27,400 and you make your slam 10 00:00:27,500 --> 00:00:29,300 – or, if things don’t go well, 11 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:30,500 you go down in your slam. 12 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:33,400 But there’s normally not much to the play. 13 00:00:33,500 --> 00:00:37,000 If you’re in a contract of 1 NT, 14 00:00:37,100 --> 00:00:39,200 or 1H or 2H or 2C, 15 00:00:39,300 --> 00:00:41,100 often those hands are harder 16 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:44,400 because you have to fight to establish tricks, 17 00:00:44,500 --> 00:00:47,400 and you might lose the lead more often 18 00:00:47,500 --> 00:00:48,800 and get it back more often. 19 00:00:48,900 --> 00:00:52,300 But slams are often quite straightforward. 20 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:55,800 What often happens though is 21 00:00:56,100 --> 00:00:57,200 that because we are in a slam, 22 00:00:57,300 --> 00:01:00,700 we get excited and a bit panicky 23 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:04,300 and we forget to do the basic things. 24 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:07,100 Those basic things, 25 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:10,400 in an NT contract especially, 26 00:01:10,500 --> 00:01:13,000 are just choosing your long suit and 27 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:15,300 just keeping on playing it. 28 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:20,200 This is a hand I just played on Sky Bridge Club. 29 00:01:20,300 --> 00:01:23,900 I noticed a large number of players 30 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:25,900 in 6 NT go down. 31 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:31,500 I think that that might have happened 32 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:32,300 because a bit of panic set in. 33 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:42,100 So… Spades is the longest suit 34 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:44,300 (the one I have the most of in the two hands) 35 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:47,400 so I’m just going to keep playing spades. 36 00:01:47,500 --> 00:01:52,200 As it happens, you’ll see, 37 00:01:52,300 --> 00:01:55,200 East chose out. 38 00:01:55,300 --> 00:01:57,300 That means West has got 2 spades left, 39 00:01:57,400 --> 00:01:59,400 so I’m going to have to lose a spade. 40 00:01:59,500 --> 00:02:01,400 But that doesn’t matter! 41 00:02:01,500 --> 00:02:05,300 I'm going to lose a spade, 42 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:07,400 but now I’ve set up a spade. 43 00:02:07,500 --> 00:02:09,900 I’ve lost one spade 44 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:14,400 but I’ve also established that 7 of spades 45 00:02:14,500 --> 00:02:17,000 as a winner. 46 00:02:17,100 --> 00:02:23,400 Whatever level you are at – 47 00:02:23,500 --> 00:02:27,300 1 NT, 6 NT, 7 NT – 48 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:30,400 often, that’s all you have to do. 49 00:02:30,500 --> 00:02:33,300 Just keep on playing that long suit. 50 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:39,100 It’s important to play that long suit early, 51 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:45,100 because if I’d panicked 52 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:46,900 and played my hearts and clubs and diamonds, 53 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:49,600 then what am I left with? 54 00:02:49,700 --> 00:02:51,400 Eventually I’m going to have to play spades 55 00:02:51,500 --> 00:02:54,400 but then I’d have no way of getting the lead back again. 56 00:02:54,500 --> 00:02:59,600 So, if you’re in a slam, 57 00:02:59,700 --> 00:03:02,400 you can relax a bit. 58 00:03:02,500 --> 00:03:06,100 I’ve got an easy contract here… 59 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:07,400 most of the time. 60 00:03:07,500 --> 00:03:11,900 Play a long suit and you’ll be fine. 61 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:13,400 Enjoy your slam! 62 00:03:13,500 --> 00:03:15,700 Have fun with that hand, 63 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:17,500 and see you next time!