DISCOVERY is a powerful strategy. Many successful declarers use discovery well. Discovery means playing side suits and watching for SHOWOUTS.
Source: Learning Points by Steve Moese & Mike Purcell for
http://www.cincybridge.com/
Here is a classic.
![](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/bidding-1-1.png)
1= Michaels Cue Bid – 55 Majors
2 =
![Heart Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/h.gif)
Stopper for NT. Invitational +
![](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Hands-1.png)
LHO leads the
![Spade Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/s.gif)
6. They are using 4th best leads.
Counting the Lead – Rule of 11 shows RHO has no
![Spade Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/s.gif)
higher than the 6!
Counting our HCP – Dummy has 13, Declarer has 14 for 27.
Counting our Tricks – After the
![Spade Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/s.gif)
lead, we have 8 tricks off the top. If the
![Heart Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/h.gif)
A is with LHO, we can lead low to Dummy’s
![Heart Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/h.gif)
K finessing the Ace. We have a 2-way finesse in
![club suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/c.gif)
s.
Counting a side suit – Since LHO’s bid shows 10 Major suit cards, LHO has only 3 cards in the minors. Let’s play on
![Diamond Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/d.gif)
s to see how many
![club suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/c.gif)
s LHO has. Leading the
![Diamond Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/d.gif)
A then K shows LHO follows to the 1 st 2 rounds of the suit.
![Diamond Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/d.gif)
s are breaking 3-2.
LHO has room for only 1
![club suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/c.gif)
card in their hand. So, play the
![club suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/c.gif)
A. If LHO does not play the
![club suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/c.gif)
Q, play the
![club suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/c.gif)
J from dummy finessing RHO for the
![club suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/c.gif)
Q. This way we can postpone the finesse in the danger suit.
Running off 10 tricks (2
![Spade Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/s.gif)
s, 4
![Diamond Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/d.gif)
s, 4
![club suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/c.gif)
s) will put pressure on LHO. They will likely discard to hold
![Spade Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/s.gif)
KJ
![Heart Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/h.gif)
A. If you keep
![Spade Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/s.gif)
AQ and
![Heart Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/h.gif)
9, you can lead a
![Heart Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/h.gif)
at trick 11. That will force LHP to lead from their remaining
![Spade Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/s.gif)
KJ into your
![Spade Suit](http://youth.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/s.gif)
AQ. You managed to lose only one trick! Isn’t counting shape wonderful? You play so brilliantly!
DISCOVERY is a powerful strategy. Many successful declarers use discovery well. Discovery means playing side suits and watching for SHOWOUTS. Declarers can count exact hand patterns. Hand pattern alone does not guarantee finding a missing honor. Knowing the exact suit split allows a declarer to play with the odds rather than against them. You can also use discovery to learn who holds major honor cards.