Deal 26	♠   ♥   ♦   ♣		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass  BID        The bidding has gone as shown. Decide what you would say, then click on BID above.
	♠ 8 ♥ A K 8 6 5 2 ♦ K 10 3 ♣ J 7 4

 

Deal 26	♠   ♥   ♦   ♣		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass 2♦ pass 2♥ pass  BID      Who knows whether you should use a transfer or just bid 4♥ yourself. Assume you decide on the transfer and bid 2♦. Partner bids 2♥ (of course). What do you say now?
	♠ 8 ♥ A K 8 6 5 2 ♦ K 10 3 ♣ J 7 4

 

Deal 26	♠ A 6 3 ♥ 9 7 ♦ J 8 4 ♣ A K Q 6 2		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass 2♦ pass 2♥ pass 4♥ pass pass pass   Who knows whether you should use a transfer or just bid 4♥ yourself. Assume you decide on the transfer and bid 2♦. Partner bids 2♥ (of course). What do you say now? Naturally you go ahead and bid 4♥, the final contract. Click NEXT to continue.
	♠ 8 ♥ A K 8 6 5 2 ♦ K 10 3 ♣ J 7 4

 

Deal 26	♠ A 6 3 ♥ 9 7 ♦ J 8 4 ♣ A K Q 6 2		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass 2♦ pass 2♥ pass 4♥ pass pass pass   The contract would be 4♥ played by North. To make South the declarer click ROTATE .
	♠ 8 ♥ A K 8 6 5 2 ♦ K 10 3 ♣ J 7 4

 

Deal 26   4♥ OL: ♠Q	♠ 8 ♥ A K 8 6 5 2 ♦ K 10 3 ♣ J 7 4		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass 2♦ pass 2♥ pass 4♥ pass pass pass South plays 4♥. West leads the ♠Q and East follows with the ♠9. You win the first trick with the ♠A. Make a Plan, then click NEXT .
	♠ A 6 3 ♥ 9 7 ♦ J 8 4 ♣ A K Q 6 2

 

Deal 26   4♥ OL: ♠Q	♠ 8 ♥ A K 8 6 5 2 ♦ K 10 3 ♣ J 7 4		Loser List: ♠ = 0 : ♥ = ? : ♦ = 2 : ♣ = 0 :: Total = ? The loser count is very confused, but that ♣ suit is not confused at all. You want to be able to run the ♣s so your plan is to play the ♥ A K, and if both defenders follow go ahead and knock out the last ♥ so they can't ruff your ♣ tricks. Unfortunately when you play ♥ A K, West plays the ♥Q, then discards a ♠.  NEXT
	♠ A 6 3 ♥ 9 7 ♦ J 8 4 ♣ A K Q 6 2

 

Deal 26   4♥ OL: ♠Q	♠ 8 ♥ A K 8 6 5 2 ♦ K 9 3 ♣ J 7 4		Loser List: ♠ = 0 : ♥ = ? : ♦ = 2 : ♣ = 0 :: Total = ? The loser count is very confused, but that ♣ suit is not confused at all. You want to be able to run the ♣s so your plan is to play the ♥ A K, and if both defenders follow go ahead and knock out the last ♥ so they can't ruff your ♣ tricks. Unfortunately when you play ♥ A K West plays the ♥Q, then discards a ♠. You may think you should change your plan but you should go right ahead with it. East has two master trumps, but dummy still has 4 small ones. So play a ♥ to force out East's ♥10. He will no doubt play another ♠ and force dummy to ruff. No problem, knock out East's final ♥ and dummy will still have one tiny trump left. When you get back in you can run the ♣s unimpeded. Click NEXT to see the full deal.
	♠ A 6 3 ♥ 9 7 ♦ J 8 4 ♣ A K Q 6 2

 

Deal 26   4♥ OL: ♠Q	♠ 8 ♥ A K 8 6 5 2 ♦ K 10 3 ♣ J 7 4		Usually it is good technique to leave master trump(s) undrawn. The exception is when you have a long suit you wish to run and you can't stand to have the running stopped by a ruff. This Deal is unusual in that there are two master trumps, but the principle is the same.  Deal 27
♠ Q J 10 5 2 ♥ Q ♦ A 9 5 2 ♣ 9 5 3		♠ K 9 7 4 ♥ J 10 4 3 ♦ Q 7 6 ♣ 10 8
	♠ A 6 3 ♥ 9 7 ♦ J 8 4 ♣ A K Q 6 2