Count to thirteen

Most declarer mistakes are not technical. They happen because declarer never stopped to count. Before you play to trick one, count your sure tricks and the tricks you still need.

Then keep counting. Every time a defender shows out, write the suit's distribution in your head. By trick six you can often name all thirteen cards in the hand you cannot see.

A simple routine

1. Count your winners (in notrump) or losers (in a suit contract).
2. Decide where the extra tricks come from.
3. Check your entries before you play from dummy.