Deal 17	♠   ♥   ♦   ♣		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass 2♣ pass  BID      The bidding has gone as shown. Decide what you would say, then click on BID above.
	♠ K J 4 2 ♥ K 5 ♦ A K 6 ♣ K 9 7 4

 

Deal 17	♠   ♥   ♦   ♣		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass 2♣ pass 2♠ pass 2NT pass  BID    In response to partner's Stayman bid you show your 4-card ♠ suit. Partner now bids 2NT. What do you say?
	♠ K J 4 2 ♥ K 5 ♦ A K 6 ♣ K 9 7 4

 

Deal 17	♠ A Q 6 ♥ 8 7 4 3 ♦ 8 3 ♣ A 10 8 2		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass 2♣ pass 2♠ pass 2NT pass 3NT pass pass pass In response to partner's Stayman bid you show your 4-card ♠ suit. Partner now bids 2NT. What do you say? Partner had ♥s, not ♠s. His 2NT bid is invitational, 9-10 points, so with 17 points you say 3NT. Click NEXT to continue.
	♠ K J 4 2 ♥ K 5 ♦ A K 6 ♣ K 9 7 4

 

Deal 17   3NT OL: ♦Q	♠ A Q 6 ♥ 8 7 4 3 ♦ 8 3 ♣ A 10 8 2		South plays 3NT. West leads the ♦Q. Make a Plan, then click NEXT .
	♠ K J 4 2 ♥ K 5 ♦ A K 6 ♣ K 9 7 4

 

Deal 17   3NT OL: ♦Q	♠ A Q 6 ♥ 8 7 4 3 ♦ 8 3 ♣ A 10 8 2		Winner List: ♠ = 4 : ♥ = 0 : ♦ = 2 : ♣ = 2 :: Total = 8 You need one more winner. Although the ♥K is a possibility, there is a real danger of losing 4 tricks in the suit if West holds the ♥A. A much better idea is to try to establish a ♣ trick, a suit where you hold 8 cards.  NEXT
	♠ K J 4 2 ♥ K 5 ♦ A K 6 ♣ K 9 7 4

 

Deal 17   3NT OL: ♦Q	♠ A Q 6 ♥ 8 7 4 3 ♦ 8 3 ♣ A 10 8 2		Winner List: ♠ = 4 : ♥ = 0 : ♦ = 2 : ♣ = 2 :: Total = 8 You need one more winner. Although the ♥K is a possibility, there is a real danger of losing 4 tricks in the suit if West holds the ♥A. A much better idea is to try to establish a ♣ trick, a suit where you hold 8 cards. You must give up one ♣ trick in order to establish a winner there. It is important that you give up that ♣ trick to West. East is the Danger hand because if he wins a ♣ he might lead through your precarious ♥K. So win the first trick, enter dummy with a ♠ honor, and play a small ♣, finessing the ♣9 when East plays low.  NEXT
	♠ K J 4 2 ♥ K 5 ♦ A K 6 ♣ K 9 7 4

 

Deal 17   3NT OL: ♦Q	♠ A Q 6 ♥ 8 7 4 3 ♦ 8 3 ♣ A 10 8 2		Winner List: ♠ = 4 : ♥ = 0 : ♦ = 2 : ♣ = 2 :: Total = 8 You need one more winner. Although the ♥K is a possibility, there is a real danger of losing 4 tricks in the suit if West holds the ♥A. A much better idea is to try to establish a ♣ trick, a suit where you hold 8 cards. You must give up one ♣ trick in order to establish a winner there. It is important that you give up that ♣ trick to West. East is the Danger hand because if he wins a ♣ he might lead through your precarious ♥K. So win the first trick, enter dummy with a ♠ honor, and play a small ♣, finessing the ♣9 when East plays low. West wins the ♣J, but you win the game. West cannot profitably play ♥s, so he will probably continue with another ♦. But since the ♣Q will now drop under the ♣ A K you have your ninth trick.  NEXT  for the complete deal.
	♠ K J 4 2 ♥ K 5 ♦ A K 6 ♣ K 9 7 4

 

Deal 17   3NT OL: ♦Q	♠ A Q 6 ♥ 8 7 4 3 ♦ 8 3 ♣ A 10 8 2		This ♣ holding shows an important principle. As long as the suit splits 3-2 you can establish the fourth card as a winner by ducking one trick. The key is your ability to choose which defender you want to duck the trick into.  Deal 18
♠ 10 8 5 ♥ A 6 2 ♦ Q J 10 7 5 ♣ J 6		♠ 9 7 3 ♥ Q J 10 9 ♦ 9 4 2 ♣ Q 5 3
	♠ K J 4 2 ♥ K 5 ♦ A K 6 ♣ K 9 7 4