Deal 61	♠ ? ♥ ? ♦ ? ♣ ?		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH  BID          You are South and it is your bid. Decide what you would say, then click on BID .
	♠ A Q 5 ♥ A Q 10 3 ♦ A K Q ♣ Q 9 4

 

Deal 61	♠ ? ♥ ? ♦ ? ♣ ?		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 2♣ pass 2♦ pass  BID        You certainly have a Notrump type hand, but you are too strong to open 2NT. With 23 points you open 2♣. Partner says 2♦. What is your next bid?
	♠ A Q 5 ♥ A Q 10 3 ♦ A K Q ♣ Q 9 4

 

Deal 61	♠ ? ♥ ? ♦ ? ♣ ?		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 2♣ pass 2♦ pass 2NT pass 3♣ pass  BID      Now you show your 23 point, balanced hand by bidding 2NT. This is not forcing on partner, he might pass. However, he doesn't pass, he says 3♣. What is your next bid?
	♠ A Q 5 ♥ A Q 10 3 ♦ A K Q ♣ Q 9 4

 

Deal 61	♠ K 8 ♥ J 9 6 2 ♦ 10 8 5 3 ♣ 10 6 5		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 2♣ pass 2♦ pass 2NT pass 3♣ pass 3♥ pass 4♥ pass pass pass This is no different than a 3♣ bid after an opening 2NT. It is Stayman. So you bid your 4-card ♥ suit and partner bids the game. South plays 4♥. West leads the ♣2. The defense takes three ♣ tricks, then plays a small ♦. Make a Plan, then click NEXT .
	♠ A Q 5 ♥ A Q 10 3 ♦ A K Q ♣ Q 9 4

 

Deal 61	♠ K 8 ♥ J 9 6 2 ♦ 10 8 5 3 ♣ 10 6 5		South plays 4♥. West leads the ♣2. The defense takes three ♣ tricks, then plays a small ♦. Losers: ♠ 0 : ♥ 1 : ♦ 0 : ♣ 3 : Total = 4 Since you've already lost the 3 ♣ tricks the Goal of your Plan is simple - Don't Lose the ♥. That makes the card assumptions simple also - East Must Have the ♥K. You only have one dummy entry so once you use it you must remain in dummy until you have finished finessing. If East has the ♥ K x you can't go wrong. If he has ♥ K x x you will have to play with care. And if he has ♥ K x x x you must play perfectly. Enter dummy with the ♠K. Lead the ♥9 and let it ride. Assuming it wins, lead the ♥J and play your ♥10 under it. Now lead a small ♥ and finesse the ♥Q. This way you get all four ♥ tricks. No other way will work. Click NEXT to see why.
	♠ A Q 5 ♥ A Q 10 3 ♦ A K Q ♣ Q 9 4

 

Deal 61	♠ K 8 ♥ J 9 6 2 ♦ 10 8 5 3 ♣ 10 6 5		To prove that only the original ♥9 play will work . . VISUALIZE: (1) That your first play from dummy was ♥J, and you played ♥3 from your hand. The next ♥ would have to be taken in your hand and you no longer have a finesse. (2) That your first play from dummy was the ♥J and you played ♥10 under it. To stay in dummy one more trick you would have to play the ♥9 and put the ♥3 under it. But when you play the ♥9 East will cover with his ♥K. You can win with the ♥A but are left with ♥ Q 3 and the lead will be in your hand. You will lose a trick to East's ♥ 8 5.  Deal 62
♠ 10 7 6 4 ♥ 7 ♦ 9 6 4 2 ♣ K J 8 2		♠ J 9 3 2 ♥ K 8 5 4 ♦ J 7 ♣ A 7 3
	♠ A Q 5 ♥ A Q 10 3 ♦ A K Q ♣ Q 9 4