Deal 80
 
 
 
♠ ?
?
?
♣ ?
 
 WEST  NORTH  EAST  SOUTH
pass BID 
 
 

You are South and it is your bid.
Decide what you would say, then click on BID .
   
  ♠ A 10 8
A K 9
J 8 7
♣ A 9 8 2
 

 
Deal 80
 
 
 
♠ ?
?
?
♣ ?
 
 WEST  NORTH  EAST  SOUTH
pass1NT
pass2NTpass BID 

With a balanced hand and 16 points you open 1NT. In the Bridge dictionary under "Opening 1NT Bid" they probably have a picture of this hand. Partner responds 2NT. What do you bid?
   
  ♠ A 10 8
A K 9
J 8 7
♣ A 9 8 2
 

 
Deal 80
 
 
 
♠ Q J 5
7 6 4
K Q 10 6 3
♣ 6 5
 
 WEST  NORTH  EAST  SOUTH
pass1NT
pass2NTpass3NT
passpasspass

Partner's 2NT bid is invitational. Specifically it tells you to pass with 15 points or bid 3NT with 17 points. But it doesn't tell you what to do when you have 16 points. So you have to make a judgement about your hand. Is it closer to 15 or closer to 17? The answer is definitely "closer to 17". Aces are actually worth a little more than 4 points and you have three of them. Also, most of your spot cards are higher than average, with only one card below a 7. So you bid 3NT.

South plays 3NT. West leads the ♠6, East plays ♠2.

Make a Plan, then click NEXT .
   
  ♠ A 10 8
A K 9
J 8 7
♣ A 9 8 2
 

 
Deal 80
 
 
 
♠ Q J 5
7 6 4
K Q 10 6 3
♣ 6 5
  South plays 3NT. West leads the ♠6, East plays ♠2.

Winner count: ♠ 2 : 2 : 0 : ♣ 1 : Total = 5

You are bound to get 2 winners in ♠s. You need to create 4 winners and the suit offers the perfect opportunity. Drive out the A and the other four s are winners. But there is a very critical problem. If the defenders hold up their A until the third round of the suit you may be locked out of dummy.

Suppose you win the first ♠ with your ♠8. Then you start on s and the defense wins the third one and leads a . You win the but your only hope of reaching dummy is with a ♠. If you take your ♠A, then lead a low one West will take his ♠K and two more. Suppose you try to sneak over to dummy by playing your ♠10. West will jump up with ♠K, then lead another which you must win with your ♠A. No entry.

In hindsight the answer is simple. Win the very first ♠ trick with your ♠A. That leaves dummy with the ♠ Q J and a sure entry. It seems strange to win a trick with a higher card than necessary but it is the only way to make this contract.

Click NEXT to see the full deal.
   
  ♠ A 10 8
A K 9
J 8 7
♣ A 9 8 2
 

 
Deal 80
 
 
 
♠ Q J 5
7 6 4
K Q 10 6 3
♣ 6 5
  Here are the initial hands.
Click NEXT to see the effect of your play to the first trick.
♠ K 9 7 6 3
Q 5 2
5 4
♣ K J 4
♠ 4 2
J 10 8 3
A 9 2
♣ Q 10 7 3
  ♠ A 10 8
A K 9
J 8 7
♣ A 9 8 2
 

 
Deal 80
 
 
 
♠ Q J
7 6
K 6
♣ 6 5
  This shows the hands after five tricks have been played in the case where you took the first trick with your ♠8. You have just won trick 5 with your K.

Notice that no matter what you try West can prevent you from reaching dummy.

Click NEXT to see how the correct play works.
♠ K 9 7 3
Q
 
♣ K J 4
♠ 4
J 10 8
 
♣ Q 10 7 3
  ♠ A 10
A 9
 
♣ A 9 8 2
 

 
Deal 80
 
 
 
♠ Q J
7 6
K 6
♣ 6 5
  This shows the hands after five tricks have been played in the case where you took the first trick with your ♠A. You have just won trick 5 with your K.

Notice that West cannot prevent you from reaching dummy with the ♠ Q J.

 Deal 81 
♠ K 9 7 3
Q
 
♣ K J 4
♠ 4
J 10 8
 
♣ Q 10 7 3
  ♠ 10 8
A 9
 
♣ A 9 8 2