Deal 12	♠   ♥   ♦   ♣		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass  BID      The bidding has gone as shown. Decide what you would say, then click on BID above.
	♠ 6 ♥ A 7 5 3 2 ♦ 7 6 4 2 ♣ 8 5 4

 

Deal 12	♠   ♥   ♦   ♣		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass 2♦ pass 2♥ pass  BID    This situation comes up a lot. You don't have enough points to advance partner's 1NT opening, but you have a "long suit" that might play better than notrump. If "long suit" is 6 ♥s or 6 ♠s then pretty clearly you should transfer partner to that suit and then pass. But with only 5 of the Major it is tougher to say that 1NT would be an inferior contract. Here's a suggestion - with fewer than 9 points and a 5-card Major, transfer to that suit when you have a singleton or void, otherwise pass 1NT. So here you bid 2♦ and partner says 2♥. What do you bid now?
	♠ 6 ♥ A 7 5 3 2 ♦ 7 6 4 2 ♣ 8 5 4

 

Deal 12	♠ A 10 5 2 ♥ 8 6 ♦ A K 3 ♣ A 9 6 2		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass 2♦ pass 2♥ pass pass pass This situation comes up a lot. You don't have enough points to advance partner's 1NT opening, but you have a "long suit" that might play better than notrump. If "long suit" is 6 ♥s or 6 ♠s then pretty clearly you should transfer partner to that suit and then pass. But with only 5 of the Major it is tougher to say that 1NT would be an inferior contract. Here's a suggestion - with fewer than 9 points and a 5-card Major transfer to that suit when you have a singleton, pass with no singleton. So here you bid 2♦ and partner says 2♥. What do you bid now? Of course you pass, that was the whole point of the transfer. Click NEXT to continue.
	♠ 6 ♥ A 7 5 3 2 ♦ 7 6 4 2 ♣ 8 5 4

 

Deal 12	♠ A 10 5 2 ♥ 8 6 ♦ A K 3 ♣ A 9 6 2		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass 2♦ pass 2♥ pass pass pass The contract would be 2♥ played by North. To make South the declarer click ROTATE .
	♠ 6 ♥ A 7 5 3 2 ♦ 7 6 4 2 ♣ 8 5 4

 

Deal 12   2♥ OL: ♠Q	♠ 6 ♥ A 7 5 3 2 ♦ 7 6 4 2 ♣ 8 5 4		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass 2♦ pass 2♥ pass pass pass South plays 2♥. West leads the ♠Q, East playing the ♠7. We will all agree that you win the first trick with your ♠A. Make a Plan, then click NEXT .
	♠ A 10 5 2 ♥ 8 6 ♦ A K 3 ♣ A 9 6 2

 

Deal 12   2♥ OL: ♠Q	♠ 6 ♥ A 7 5 3 2 ♦ 7 6 4 2 ♣ 8 5 4		Loser List: ♠ = 3 : ♥ = 2/3/? : ♦ = 1 : ♣ = 3 :: Total = lots In suit contracts it is usual to count losers. Sometimes in low level suit contracts it makes things clearer if you count winners. Here you have 4 high card winners in your hand plus the Ace of trumps in dummy. Your plan will therefore be to make as many of dummy's small trumps as you can.  NEXT
	♠ A 10 5 2 ♥ 8 6 ♦ A K 3 ♣ A 9 6 2

 

Deal 12   2♥ OL: ♠Q	♠ 6 ♥ A 7 5 3 2 ♦ 7 6 4 2 ♣ 8 5 4		Loser List: ♠ = 3 : ♥ = 2/3/? : ♦ = 1 : ♣ = 3 :: Total = lots In suit contracts it is usual to count losers. Sometimes in low level suit contracts it makes things clearer if you count winners. Here you have 4 high card winners in your hand plus the Ace of trumps in dummy. Your plan will therefore be to make as many of dummy's small trumps as you can. At trick 2 ruff a ♠ in dummy. Pull one trump with the ♥A. Play a ♣ back to your ♣A and ruff another ♠.  NEXT
	♠ A 10 5 2 ♥ 8 6 ♦ A K 3 ♣ A 9 6 2

 

Deal 12   2♥ OL: ♠Q	♠ 6 ♥ A 7 5 3 2 ♦ 7 6 4 2 ♣ 8 5 4		Loser List: ♠ = 3 : ♥ = 2/3/? : ♦ = 1 : ♣ = 3 :: Total = lots In suit contracts it is usual to count losers. Sometimes in low level suit contracts it makes things clearer if you count winners. Here you have 4 high card winners in your hand plus the Ace of trumps in dummy. Your plan will therefore be to make as many of dummy's small trumps as you can. At trick 2 ruff a ♠ in dummy. Pull one trump with the ♥A. Play a ♣ back to your ♣A and ruff another ♠. Got the idea? Play a ♦ to your ♦K and ruff your last ♠ in dummy. Then play the ♦A. If you've been counting you have taken the first 8 tricks. A good thing, too, because you aren't going to take any more. Click NEXT to see the full deal.
	♠ A 10 5 2 ♥ 8 6 ♦ A K 3 ♣ A 9 6 2

 

Deal 12   2♥ OL: ♠Q	♠ 6 ♥ A 7 5 3 2 ♦ 7 6 4 2 ♣ 8 5 4		In most suit contracts it is good to pull trumps early. Here is an example of when that principle is NOT correct; when you need to get several ruffs with small trumps.  Deal 13
♠ Q J 9 8 ♥ K J ♦ Q 9 8 5 ♣ Q J 3		♠ K 7 4 3 ♥ Q 10 9 4 ♦ J 10 ♣ K 10 7
	♠ A 10 5 2 ♥ 8 6 ♦ A K 3 ♣ A 9 6 2