Keeping entries to Dummy.

Board 14 is a chance to show off your declarer skills.

Every E-W pair were in 3NT and mostly had the 4S lead.

Counting winners (as you do in NT) there are 10.

5 D's, 2 S's, 2 H's, 1 C. With possibilities for 2 more.

2 pairs only made 9 tricks, WHAT ???  Very generous.

1 pair made 10, 2 made 11 and 1 made 12 tricks.

This highlights a lack in skill, in playing NT, in our club.

An 11th trick can be found in hearts after taking a losing finesse.

The difficulty in declarer play, lies in entries to dummy.

There are 3: KS, KH, 7D.

If East play the KS at trick 1, then that entry is gone.

If East plays AH then finesses the JH, then the entry to the KH trick is gone.

If East doesn't utilize the 7D entry, then no entry to the hearts is possible.

Hence only 9 tricks.

Critical to good declarer play is preserving entries in the weaker hand.

Ensuring you can get back and forth to develop and score all your tricks.

Well done to those Easts making 11 or 12 tricks.