After 20 years spent teaching bidding, I’m instructing students in play of the hand this summer. My main textbook is Plan Before You Play by Howard Ringel.

The only Vineyarder I know who can look at the board and know almost instantly how to play the hand is Barbara Besse. The rest of us need some time before playing to the first trick — and often don’t take enough. A good role model is ACBL Player of the Year Marty Fleisher, who says, “I need a minute to study the board.”

I’m giving you all the time you need to plan the play on two of Ringel’s hands. First, try this one:

NORTH

♠ A 6

♥ Q J 10 9 8

♦ 9 7 4

♣ Q 9 5

SOUTH

♠ K 5 2

♥ A K

♦ A 10 5 3

♣ K 7 6 3

The contract is 3NT played by South, and West leads the spade queen. Ringel suggests asking yourself the following questions before playing to Trick One:

“How many winners do you have off the top?

“Which suits offer the best chance for more tricks?

“Is there a suit that threatens the contract?

“How do you diagnose the suit led, spades?

“What will be your order of play?”

It appears that you have eight sure tricks — five hearts, two spades and a diamond — with another certain once you lead clubs. So, what’s the potential problem? Order of play. How do you plan to proceed, starting with Trick One?

If you cashed the spade ace, you may be toast. Unless the club ace sits West, you won’t be able to reach the board and run the heart suit because the heart ace-king blocks it. That’s a 50 per cent proposition. There’s also a 100 per cent plan. Do you see it?

Win the first spade with your king, then cash the heart ace-king. Now lead a club. Even if the queen loses to East’s ace, the king will be good. More important, you’ll have an entry to three winning heart tricks with the spade ace.

Now try this one:

NORTH

♠ K J 7

♥ 9 8 6

♦ K J 6 4 3

♣ A 5

SOUTH

♠ A Q 10 8 6 4

♥ A 7 3

♦ A

♣ K 7 3

The contract is 6 ♠ played by South, and West leads the heart king. This time Ringel suggests you ask yourself:

“How many losers do you have?

“How many trumps are outstanding?

“How many rounds necessary to pull them?”

“Is there any reason to delay pulling trumps?

“What will be your order of play?”

You appear to have two heart losers and a possible club loser. Is there any way to reduce that number?

Win the lead with the heart ace and unblock the diamond ace. Then play a spade to the king and throw a heart on the diamond king. Ruff a diamond high. Cash the spade jack, delighted when the suit breaks 2-2. Now lead another diamond, which you ruff as the queen falls. Play the ace-king of clubs and ruff a club. Dummy’s diamond jack is good, and you make 13 tricks!

The hands:

NORTH

♠ K J 7

♥ 9 8 6

♦ K J 6 4 3

♣ A 5

WEST                  EAST

♠ 3 2                    ♠ 9 5

♥ K Q J 5             ♥ 10 4 2

♦ 10 9 8               ♦ Q 7 5 2

♣ Q 10 8 2           ♣ J 9 6 4

SOUTH

♠ A Q 10 8 6 4

♥ A 7 3

♦A

♣ K 7 3

Even if trumps break 3-1, you can make six by ruffing a club early. Just plan before you play.