SWOT Analysis

SWOT is used widely both in business, in industry, and in government to assess the potential outcome of a particular situation should a particular plan of action be undertaken.

S = Strengths

W = Weaknesses

O = Opportunities.

T = Threats.

As declarer a player should always do a SWOT analysis before playing to trick ONE.

Consider the contract you are in. Examine your hand and that of Dummy in combination.

It may be helpful to count winners as STRENGTHS considering a NT contract and

It may be helpful to first consider losers as WEAKNESSES when considering a suit contract.

Strengths

These are the tricks that you could take without losing the lead.

Weakness

This is the difference between the Strengths and the number of tricks required to fulfil your contract.

Opportunities

These are the ways in which you may achieve the tricks of your weakness.

Threats

These are the dangers you need to consider, which hand is it safe to lose the lead to – is there a 2 way finesse where you can exit to the ‘safe’ hand?

NEVER PLAY FROM DUMMY TO TRICK ONE BEFORE DOING YOUR SWOT.