Henry David Thoreau wrote, "It is not worth the while to go round the world to count the cats in Zanzibar."

I always thought the key stat about Zanzibar was that the whole population of the world could stand on it. However, for a bridge player, this should become: It is worth the while to count the tricks in every deal. In today's layout, how should South plan the play in (a) six spades and (b) seven spades after West leads, say, the club king to North's ace.

North's use of Blackwood wasn't guaranteed to reach the right contract, but he had to move toward a slam. He might have made a four-diamond splinter bid over three clubs, showing a big hand with a singleton or void in diamonds. South would have liked his aces, but would have wished for a fifth trump. The auction might have continued five diamonds (showing the diamond ace and warning of duplication if North were void in diamonds) - five hearts (first-round control) - six spades.

South has eight trump tricks by crossruffing. So, if in six spades, he needs four side-suit winners. He should cash two heart tricks and the diamond ace, then crossruff. But in seven spades, he must hope that three rounds of hearts stand up (which is unlikely given West's bidding). Here, though, it works perfectly.

Finally, if you would like to be in seven spades, give West a trump. Then his hand is presumably 1-2-5-5 and he can either lead that trump or wait to ruff the third heart. Here, it is lucky that spades are 0-5.

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