If all these statistics

make you feel tired,

 take a rest like this

 guy.

Percentage plays 

It is sometimes useful to be aware of the percentage chances associated with common breaks. They are as below.

It is sometimes helpful to compare the relevant figure from this table with finesse percentages ie

A simple finesse has a 50% chance

A double finesse has a 75% chance

Consider this hand:-

The contract is 3NT, and the defenders lead the king of hearts. How do you plan the play ?

You have eight certain tricks Losing a trick will result in a torrent of heart tricks for the opposition so it's important to get it right.

Play your spades for a 3:3 break ? No use as you can't get back into dummy.

Play the diamonds for a 3:3 break or finesse the queen of clubs ?

Look at the table above and you will see that the finesse has a 50% chance while the 3:3 break is only 36%. So you take the finesse and you will be right more often than if you played for a 3:3 break.

Now look at this one where an eager partner gets you into a difficult contract.

Declarer's opening 2NT is raised to a risky 3NT. The opening lead of a heart results in defenders king being captured by your ace. You have eight top tricks. Where should you go for your ninth ?

Your two choices are:-

1. Play three rounds of spades  hoping for a 3:3 break when you will make your '2'.
2. Play on your diamonds hoping for a 3:2 break.

The statistics show that (1) has a chance of 36% while (2) has a chance of 68%. Choose (2) !

A subsidiary problem is that your ace of diamonds is your only entry to dummy so you must duck two rounds of diamonds ie lose two diamond tricks before taking ace and two others. You have enough high cards in the other suits to withstand any attack by defenders.

When you are ready, have a look at these practise hands which encompass concepts from all aspects of declarer play.