Deal 72	♠   ♥   ♦   ♣		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass  BID        The bidding has gone as shown. Decide what you would say, then click on BID above.
	♠ A K 7 3 ♥ K J 8 2 ♦ A Q J ♣ 9 8

 

Deal 72	♠   ♥   ♦   ♣		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass 2♣ pass 2♥ pass  BID      Did you consider bidding 6NT? You are balanced, and the points are right. But with two 4-card Majors you should use Stayman, so you bid 2♣. Partner bids 2♥. Now what do say next?
	♠ A K 7 3 ♥ K J 8 2 ♦ A Q J ♣ 9 8

 

Deal 72	♠   ♥   ♦   ♣		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass 2♣ pass 2♥ pass 4NT pass 5♥ pass  BID    Did you consider bidding 6NT? You are balanced, and the points are right. But with two 4-card Majors you should use Stayman, so you bid 2♣. Partner bids 2♥. Now what do say next? You might just go ahead and bid 6♥. Partner probably has at least one Ace for his 1NT opening. The other choice is a Blackwood 4NT, and while you don't like to use Blackwood when you have a worthless doubleton, this bid will at least keep you out of slam if partner has ZERO Aces. You bid 4NT and partner replies 5♥. Next?
	♠ A K 7 3 ♥ K J 8 2 ♦ A Q J ♣ 9 8

 

Deal 72	♠ J 5 ♥ A 9 7 3 ♦ K 6 4 ♣ A K 6 2		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass 2♣ pass 2♥ pass 4NT pass 5♥ pass 6♥ pass pass pass Did you consider bidding 6NT? You are balanced, and the points are right. But with two 4-card Majors you should use Stayman, so you bid 2♣. Partner bids 2♥. Now what do say next? You might just go ahead and bid 6♥. Partner probably has at least one Ace for his 1NT opening. The other choice is a Blackwood 4NT, and while you don't like to use Blackwood when you have a worthless doubleton, this bid will at least keep you out of slam if partner has ZERO Aces. You bid 4NT and partner replies 5♥. Next? He has two Aces so you bid 6♥ because you know there aren't enough points for seven. Click NEXT to continue.
	♠ A K 7 3 ♥ K J 8 2 ♦ A Q J ♣ 9 8

 

Deal 72	♠ J 5 ♥ A 9 7 3 ♦ K 6 4 ♣ A K 6 2		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass 2♣ pass 2♥ pass 4NT pass 5♥ pass 6♥ pass pass pass The contract would be 6♥ played by North. To make South the declarer click ROTATE .
	♠ A K 7 3 ♥ K J 8 2 ♦ A Q J ♣ 9 8

 

Deal 72   6♥ OL: ♠10	♠ A K 7 3 ♥ K J 8 2 ♦ A Q J ♣ 9 8		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass 2♣ pass 2♥ pass 4NT pass 5♥ pass 6♥ all pass South plays 6♥. West leads the ♠10. You toy with the idea of letting this ride to your ♠J, then you put away your childish toys and play the ♠A from dummy. Make a Plan, then click NEXT .
	♠ J 5 ♥ A 9 7 3 ♦ K 6 4 ♣ A K 6 2

 

Deal 72   6♥ OL: ♠10	♠ A K 7 3 ♥ K J 8 2 ♦ A Q J ♣ 9 8		Loser List: ♠ = 0 : ♥ = 1 : ♦ = 0 : ♣ = 2 :: Total = 3 The two ♣ losers can be ruffed in dummy. A successful ♥ finesse could save you a loser in trumps. So, should you take the ♥ finesse now?  NEXT
	♠ J 5 ♥ A 9 7 3 ♦ K 6 4 ♣ A K 6 2

 

Deal 72   6♥ OL: ♠10	♠ A K 7 3 ♥ K J 8 2 ♦ A Q J ♣ 9 8		Loser List: ♠ = 0 : ♥ = 1 : ♦ = 0 : ♣ = 2 :: Total = 3 The two ♣ losers can be ruffed in dummy. A successful ♥ finesse could save you a loser in trumps. So, should you take the ♥ finesse now? No, because if you play ♥A, then the ♥ finesse LOSES, East might play a third ♥ and stop you from your two ruffs in dummy. A much better plan is to play the ♥K, then ♥A, and if the ♥Q drops, well and good. This time she doesn't, but both East and West follow to both trump leads. Play the ♣ A K, the ♠K, and the ♦ A K Q. If somebody ruffs any of these it will be with the master trump and you won't care. But if they don't ruff yet, you just start cross-ruffing ♣s and ♠s and let them ruff in whenever they like. Click NEXT to see the full deal.
	♠ J 5 ♥ A 9 7 3 ♦ K 6 4 ♣ A K 6 2

 

Deal 72   6♥ OL: ♠10	♠ A K 7 3 ♥ K J 8 2 ♦ A Q J ♣ 9 8		Missing 5 trumps to the Queen the correct play to avoid a loser is to finesse. But that is only correct as far as that suit is concerned. When you look at the entire hand you may find that by taking your two high trumps and leaving the master Queen out you can make all four of your small ones separately. This is much more obvious play when you are missing 5 trumps including the Queen AND Jack because you don't have any choice then. Deal 73
♠ 10 9 8 4 ♥ 10 4 ♦ 8 7 5 2 ♣ Q 10 3		♠ Q 6 2 ♥ Q 6 5 ♦ 10 9 3 ♣ J 7 5 4
	♠ J 5 ♥ A 9 7 3 ♦ K 6 4 ♣ A K 6 2