Deal 57	♠   ♥   ♦   ♣		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass  BID      The bidding has gone as shown. Decide what you would say, then click on BID above.
	♠ 7 3 ♥ 9 7 3 ♦ K 8 7 6 5 2 ♣ 9 5

 

Deal 57	♠   ♥   ♦   ♣		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass 2♠ pass 3♣ pass  BID    In the old days (before transfer bids) you could have just bid a "drop-dead" 2♦. But those days are gone so you must improvise. You bid 2♠, transferring partner to ♣s. Partner says 3♣; what do you bid?
	♠ 7 3 ♥ 9 7 3 ♦ K 8 7 6 5 2 ♣ 9 5

 

Deal 57	♠ 8 6 5 4 ♥ A K 2 ♦ Q 4 ♣ A K 10 3		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass 2♠ pass 3♣ pass 3♦ pass pass pass In the old days (before transfer bids) you could have just bid a "drop-dead" 2♦. But those days are gone so you must improvise. You bid 2♠, transferring partner to ♣s. Partner says 3♣; what do you bid? You now bid 3♦ and partner knows to pass. Click NEXT to continue.
	♠ 7 3 ♥ 9 7 3 ♦ K 8 7 6 5 2 ♣ 9 5

 

Deal 57   3♦ OL: ♠Q	♠ 8 6 5 4 ♥ A K 2 ♦ Q 4 ♣ A K 10 3		South plays 3♦. West leads the ♠Q. East overtakes and plays ♠ A K 9. Make a Plan, then click NEXT .
	♠ 7 3 ♥ 9 7 3 ♦ K 8 7 6 5 2 ♣ 9 5

 

Deal 57   3♦ OL: ♠Q	♠ 8 6 5 4 ♥ A K 2 ♦ Q 4 ♣ A K 10 3		Loser List: ♠ = 2 : ♥ = 1 : ♦ = ? : ♣ = 0 :: Total = 3 + ? Rather than trying to figure out how many losers this ♦ holding may produce, approach it from the other direction; you can only afford ONE loser, so you assume the cards lie in a way that will give you that result.  NEXT
	♠ 7 3 ♥ 9 7 3 ♦ K 8 7 6 5 2 ♣ 9 5

 

Deal 57   3♦ OL: ♠Q	♠ 8 6 5 4 ♥ A K 2 ♦ Q 4 ♣ A K 10 3		Loser List: ♠ = 2 : ♥ = 1 : ♦ = ? : ♣ = 0 :: Total = 3 + ? Rather than trying to figure out how many losers this ♦ holding may produce, approach it from the other direction; you can only afford ONE loser, so you assume the cards lie in a way that will give you that result. That means that the ♦s must be splitting 3-2, and it also means that you must knock out the ♦A without using either the ♦K or ♦Q. Can you do it?  NEXT
	♠ 7 3 ♥ 9 7 3 ♦ K 8 7 6 5 2 ♣ 9 5

 

Deal 57   3♦ OL: ♠Q	♠ 8 6 5 4 ♥ A K 2 ♦ Q 4 ♣ A K 10 3		Loser List: ♠ = 2 : ♥ = 1 : ♦ = ? : ♣ = 0 :: Total = 3 + ? Rather than trying to figure out how many losers this ♦ holding may produce, approach it from the other direction; you can only afford ONE loser, so you assume the cards lie in a way that will give you that result. That means that the ♦s must be splitting 3-2, and it also means that you must knock out the ♦A without using either the ♦K or ♦Q. Can you do it? Your only hope is for West to hold a doubleton ♦ A x. You ruff the third ♠, then play a small ♦ toward dummy's ♦Q. When this wins the trick, play another ♦, and duck in your hand. If West's ♦A falls you will be golden. Click NEXT  for the full layout.
	♠ 7 3 ♥ 9 7 3 ♦ K 8 7 6 5 2 ♣ 9 5

 

Deal 57   3♦ OL: ♠Q	♠ 8 6 5 4 ♥ A K 2 ♦ Q 4 ♣ A K 10 3		There are times when your only hope of making a contract is if the defender's cards lie in a particular way. When this happens you should play as if they actually DO lie in that way, even though it may be against the percentages. This hand is a perfect example - your only hope was for West to hold ♦ A x, so - you base your plan on West holding ♦ A x. Deal 58
♠ Q J 10 2 ♥ J 8 6 ♦ A 3 ♣ J 7 4 2		♠ A K 9 ♥ Q 10 5 4 ♦ J 10 9 ♣ Q 8 6
	♠ 7 3 ♥ 9 7 3 ♦ K 8 7 6 5 2 ♣ 9 5