North opens 1C - East overcalls 1D - with cover in the oppositions diamond suit you could bid No Trumps but 1NT is 6-9 points and 2NT is 11-12 so either bid would be a lie.... better to show your 4 card major suit 1S. Partner bids 2NT shows 16+ HCP, you now raise to 3NT as you know there are enough points between you to bid game. All Pass
Acol Bidding
North opens 1C - East overcalls 1D - with cover in the oppositions diamond suit you could bid No Trumps but 1NT is 6-9 points and 2NT is 11-12 so either bid would be a lie.... better to show your 4 card major suit 1S. Partner bids 2NT shows 16+ HCP, you now raise to 3NT as you know there are enough points between you to bid game. All Pass
Plan Before You Play
The trick in a notrump contract is to lose your losers while you still have controls in all the suits (you have the JD and 10D as controls in the diamond suit). You need to lose losers in the spade suit to optimise the tricks won so start on that suit first. <
The Play
East leads KD and you cover with AD. Lead 5S planning to play the JS if west plays low (we are hoping that west holds the QS - a 50-50 chance) cover the QS, then play JS AH and KH - then cross to South's hand with KC and play the KS and 10S, a low club back to North's hand to play the rest of your club honor cards.
Comment
You can make 11 tricks in this contract although you only needed to win 9 tricks to make your contract. *A link to our Declarer Play lessons
The above commentary is intended as a guideline only. As with any Bridge hand there are many ways to bid and play any hand.
