Stay positive to get an edge

With such poor hearts, and the king of clubs possibly off-side it would be easy to be pessimistic about this hand. When faced with a problem like this a player’s anxiety level will often rise as questions about how to make the contract arise. Some players will become negative about the contract with thoughts entering the mind about the possibility of going off in a vulnerable game and taking a poor score back to one’s team-mates. With this anxiety and doubt influencing their thoughts, a player’s concentration and focus will be adversely impacted. A player with this negative mindset may struggle to think clearly and bring their focus effectively back to the problem at hand.

Players with good mental skills will remain positive despite being faced with a difficult contract. They will focus properly and consider their options and the line of play required rather than being negative or tentative about the circumstance in which they have found themselves. To be successful, a player’s thought process must be focussed on what needs to happen for the contract to make, rather than be pre-occupied with negative thoughts on how difficult the contract might appear. Focussing like this will lead to the realisation that it is possible to make the contract even if the club king is offside and even with such poor trumps.

Learning how to refocus when your thoughts have turned negative is a mental skill worth acquiring. This starts by recognising when your self-talk has turned negative. Phrases like “what a stupid bid partner made”, or “why did I make a game try here”, or “we are behind in the match and if I don’t make this we are going to get smashed” are a good sign that your thoughts have taken a negative turn. To refocus, start by taking a few deep breaths to relax and change your self-talk from the negative (this contract is terrible) to positive (what do I need to do to make this contract). Using a word like “focus” will also help remind you to focus on the task at hand–what is the best line–rather than the outcome which hasn’t happened yet. Presenting a calm and confident persona to the opponents even when faced with a difficult contract will also assist with achieving the desired outcome. After all, the opponents may be facing their own self-doubt and help you out with a difficult contract!

When this hand came up in Melbourne’s 2018 Victor Champion Cup teams which featured over 90 entries, more than half the field, including some very strong players failed in four hearts on a variety of leads. I was declarer in four hearts and found my way home after the lead of the king of diamonds, although the contract is arguably more difficult on the singleton club lead. Our teammates were with the field in setting four hearts. Sitting South I won the opening lead with the ace and ruffed a diamond, returning to hand with a spade to the ace I ruffed another diamond, and returned to hand with a spade to the king leaving this end position: