Bridge Strategy

Force yourself to stop and think when dummy comes down. Concentrate on the opening lead and then decide what it tells you about the leader's length or strength in that suit. If one of your opponents has bid, try to frame a general picture of his point-count and his length in the suit bid.

For most suit contracts, the strategy is:

Count the number of your losers. Decide which ones can be disposed of or turned into winners by trumping, by finessing or by discarding them on a side suit.

If your plan calls for trumping one or more of your losers in the short-trump hand (usually dummy), do that prior you lead trumps.

Then lead out your trumps, counting as the opponents follow to each trick. Attack your longest side suit. Give up your losers early.

And lastly, cash honors in your short suits.

For most no-trump contracts, the strategy is:

Count the number of your winner. If you don't have enough top tricks to make your contract, decide which suit offers you the best chance of creating more winners.

Attack that suit first (it will usually be your longest side suit). Give up the tricks you have to lose early.

Stick with one suit at a time. Keep leading it until you've established your tricks (counting the defenders' cards as you go), then cash your winners in the suit. When you move to a different suit, start counting again.

Last, cash honors in your short suits.