Niels Bohr said, “An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field.”

A bridge expert would not make mistakes in this week’s deals, because he always keeps track of high-card points – during the auction and as the play progresses.

This deal is relatively straightforward. Look at the North-South hands and the bidding. How should South plan the play in three no-trump after West leads a heart?

South should over-call one no-trump, not make a takeout double. Yes, he would prefer a second heart stopper, but he has to do the best he can and hope partner tables a few useful goodies. Here, North has an easy raise to game. Remember to be aggressive in these situations because partner will be able to place the cards accurately from the bidding.

West leads the heart three, low from a triple-ton in a suit partner bid that he did not support. This is the one time low from length does not promise an honor in the suit.

Declarer has six top tricks: three spades, one heart, one diamond and one club. A successful finesse in either minor will bring in the extra three winners that he needs. But which finesse should he take?

There are only 13 high-card points missing, so East must have both of the minor-suit kings. Therefore, when South wins with the heart ace, he crosses to the club ace, and takes the diamond finesse three times.

Keep counting and tracking the high-card points.