Blum on Bridge Memory Techniques
	Players who accuse me of slow play fall into two categories: those who are smarter than me and those who are dumber than me. The smarter ones are able to more quickly analyze the distribution of cards in the hands of opponents. As a result, most likely they're also better at the game. Today, though, I want to talk to those accusers who are dumber than yours truly. In bridge parlance these folks just "throw cards." Many are Life Masters who have attained the rank by virtue of longevity. I am certain the quality of their play depends upon the mechanics of declarer play they've learned over the years. When these folks play a hand their main thought is to get to the next hand and beat the clock. It reminds me of the young bull saying to the old bull as they stood at the top of the hill, "Look at all those gorgeous cows in the pasture. Let's run down and make love to one." Whereupon the old bull said wisely, "Why don't we walk down the hill and make love to them all?" I want to teach you a technique used by Ron Klinger that may use up the clock but will still improve your memory during declarer play. One problem is how to remember which of your cards are high when it's late in the hand. This, as are most declarer problems, is tackled best at the beginning of the hand. Which cards do the opponents hold that are critical and could become winners? From then on all you have to watch out for are those critical cards. A simple example is, Dummy: KQ43; Declarer: J1065. Declarer leads the jack, taken by the ace. Later in the play the king and queen are cashed and declarer is unsure whether the 10 card is a winner or not. The fact that the jack was played earlier has been forgotten. At the outset declarer should say, "The opponents have only one critical card, the ace. Once it is played the rest of my suit are winners." It should register later that the ace was the only problem in the suit. The above example is simple, but the point to remember is to address the fact at the outset that there is a critical card in the suit to be remembered. Several other instances are: Dummy J62 Declarer AK3; Dummy J62 Declarer AK53; Dummy J62 Declarer AK93. In the first case, only the queen is relevant when you play AK. In the second scenario, only the queen is relevant in high cards and the 13th trick with a 3-3 break. And in the third example, both the 10 and the queen are critical in addition to the 3-3 break. More difficult but manageable holdings are AK95-Q3 and AK85-Q3. In the first holding the two critical cards are the jack and 10. In the second remember that three cards, the jack, 10, and 9 are outstanding and must be played before your 8 is a winner. Last week I left you with the following: sitting declarer south, your hand is A64-1053-AK9543-8 with a dummy of J7-K92-J1086-A973. West leads the spade 10. The bidding had gone East 1 spade-you 2 diamonds-West 2 spades-North 3 diamonds-East 3 hearts-you pass-West 3 spades-North 4 diamonds-all pass. Should North have bid 4 diamonds? How do you play the hand? There is a powerful rule that applies here. When your partner overcalls and you raise, you must have four-card support in order to compete further when your partner does not bid again. If North had three-card support, South has less of a chance to make 4 diamonds. In addition with more diamonds in the hands of the opponents N-S has a better chance to beat 3 spades. Regarding the play, the main point brought out by Mike Lawrence was to plan ahead at trick one before making a play. Not only does this sage advice apply here, but also it does so at the first trick. How many of you did not play dummy's jack at trick one? If you played the jack, did you cover East's queen (or king) with your ace? If you win the first trick, the contract has about a 5 percent chance of making. You must not only let East win the trick, but you must keep West out of the lead or he will lead through your weak heart suit. After East wins the first trick his best return is another spade to your ace. After drawing trumps another critical moment arises. Do you know what it is? You could ruff a spade, play the club ace and ruff a club in your hand. Then you would play a heart to the nine allowing East to win. East would win his heart ace and play another heart to your king, but what if East has a third club? He now has an out card and would not be forced to play hearts. Therefore, instead of ruffing a spade immediately lead a club to the ace, ruff a club, now ruff a spade, and ruff a second club in your hand. Now play a heart to the nine and the contract is secure. East's hand is K8532-AQJ4-2-QJ10. Remember he bid spades and hearts.