How Distribution Points contribute to Total Points

South deals and bids Pass (only 4 HCP)

North has only 11 HCP which is not sufficient to open bidding. However, North has an unusual shape. Note the void in Spades and the long Clubs. This is definitely not a no-trump hand, but Clubs looks interesting as the trump suit.

In a trump play a void is worth 5 points and a long suit is worth 1 point for each card after the fourth. So in addition to the 11 HCP North can also add 5 points for Spades void and 3 points for Clubs length, giving a total of 19 points which is more than enough to open bidding.

Notice also that South has a singleton in Diamonds. A singleton is worth 3 points, giving a total of 7 points. N-S combined has 26 points which is good enough for a NT or major-suit game (25+), but short of a minor-suit game (29+). Since Clubs is the likely trump, a minor-suit game is unlikely to achieve for N-S.

	♠ ♥ K107 ♦ AQ3 ♣ Q1087643
♠ AQ32 ♥ J8 ♦ K10864 ♣ K2		♠ J1094 ♥ AQ96 ♦ J952 ♣ A
	♠ K8765 ♥ 5432 ♦ 7 ♣ J95

Analysing the above, N-S partnership has no loser in Spades, 2 in Hearts (10 and 7), 1 in Diamonds (3)  and 2 in Clubs (the absence of A and K). They can theoretically get 13 - 5 = 8 tricks. Assume that N-S wins the bidding in Clubs.

The best strategy for N-S would be to first get rid of ♦7 so S could be void of Diamonds. Once done, they could cross-ruff Diamonds and Spades between them as long as they are mindful that South's Spades is longer than North's Diamonds.

N-S then need to guess the hand shape of W-E. It's clear that W-E has 8 Spades (most likely spread equally 4-4), 6 Hearts (likely 3-3), 9 Diamonds (4-5) and only 3 Clubs (A, K and 2).

Let's see how this can be played. North is first to bid Clubs, so East will start the play. If East plays Hearts or Clubs they will win the trick. Spades or Diamonds will give the trick to N-S which can then be followed by the plan to discard ♦7.