Declare a hand check list

Declare a hand Check list
There is the opening lead!
Down comes the dummy!
Nice hand! Thank you Partner 
What am I thinking?
I. Where is the hand you were bidding in the auction? :)
II. Was the opening lead fast?
III. Did the opening leader have a tough time finding a lead?

1. Review the bidding, make a plan.
2. Carefully consider the opening lead, make a plan.
a. Did defender lead his partner bid suit? Why not?
b. Did defender lead a singleton? Length lead?
c. Did defender make an honor lead? Top of a sequence?
d. Top of an internal sequence?
e. Was it a fourth best lead (low from an honor)
f. Top of a doubleton
g. Was the lead from an unbid suit?
h. Was the lead thru dummies strength?
i. Was the lead good for you free finesse ?

3. How many total tricks do I need to make? Make a plan.
a. How many do I already have?
b. How many do I need to generate?
c. Try for overtricks, will it jeopardize contract?

4. OK let’s go to work. Ways to create tricks. Make a plan.
a. Force opponents to win higher tricks to promote mine.
b. Ruff cards in the hand with short trump
c. Do I pull trump now? Timing?
d. How many trumps do I need to ruff losers?
e. What if the opps get in and play my trump before I am ready? Timing
f. Strip hand and loose control, let opponents lead broken suit.
g. Count winners and losers, should I concede losers early or
wait until end of play? Timing

5. Here I am half way thru, how’s it going?
a. Did the opponents signal each other? Get any clues?
b. Any surprises about the distribution of the hands?
c. What was the opening lead? Why?

6. I have the rest of the tricks! Am I 100% sure, no doubt about it. State my line of play and CLAIM! Well done to me  There is no reason to take more time.
Barry Depristo