Deal 79
 
 
 
♠  
 
 
♣  
 
 WEST  NORTH  EAST  SOUTH
1NT
pass2pass BID 
 
 

The bidding has gone as shown.
Decide what you would say, then click on BID above.
  ♠ K J
10 9 7 3
A K 5 3
♣ A Q 4
 

 
Deal 79
 
 
 
♠  
 
 
♣  
 
 WEST  NORTH  EAST  SOUTH
1NT
pass2pass2♠
pass2NTpass BID 
 

Partner's 2 is a transfer, so you bid 2♠.
Partner now bids 2NT. What do you say?
  ♠ K J
10 9 7 3
A K 5 3
♣ A Q 4
 

 
Deal 79
 
 
 
♠ Q 10 9 8 4
A 4
Q 7 2
♣ 8 6 5
 
 WEST  NORTH  EAST  SOUTH
1NT
pass2pass2♠
pass2NTpass3NT
passpasspass

Partner's 2 is a transfer, so you bid 2♠.
Partner now bids 2NT. What do you say?

Partner is only inviting, so he must have either 9 or 10 points.
And since he chose 2NT as the invitation he must have only 5 ♠s.
You will accept the invitation since you have a maximum 1NT opener, and you choose 3NT since you know there is no 8-card ♠ fit.

Click NEXT to continue.
  ♠ K J
10 9 7 3
A K 5 3
♣ A Q 4
 

 
Deal 79
 
3NT
OL: 5
♠ Q 10 9 8 4
A 4
Q 7 2
♣ 8 6 5
  South plays 3NT.
When West leads the 5 you have an immediate decision to make.

Make a Plan, then click NEXT .
  ♠ K J
10 9 7 3
A K 5 3
♣ A Q 4
 

 
Deal 79
 
3NT
OL: 5
♠ Q 10 9 8 4
A 4
Q 7 2
♣ 8 6 5
  Winner List: ♠ = 0 : = 1 : = 3 : ♣ = 1 :: Total = 5

It is pretty clear that the 4 additional winners you need will be ♠s.
The danger is that when you force out the ♠A the defenders might be able to cash 4 s right away. So the immediate decision is whether you take the A on the first trick or wait until the second.

 NEXT 
  ♠ K J
10 9 7 3
A K 5 3
♣ A Q 4
 

 
Deal 79
 
3NT
OL: 5
♠ Q 10 9 8 4
A 4
Q 7 2
♣ 8 6 5
  Winner List: ♠ = 0 : = 1 : = 3 : ♣ = 1 :: Total = 5

It is pretty clear that the 4 additional winners you need will be ♠s.
The danger is that when you force out the ♠A the defenders might be able to cash 4 s right away. So the immediate decision is whether you take the A on the first trick or wait until the second.


If West has only 4 s it will make no difference what you do because they will only win 3 tricks and you will make your contract. So assume that West has a 5-card suit, which means that East has 2 s.
West's suit is definitely NOT  K Q J 5 2; he would have started with the K, not the 5. So you can be sure that East holds either  K x,  Q x or  J x.
So what?

 NEXT 
  ♠ K J
10 9 7 3
A K 5 3
♣ A Q 4
 

 
Deal 79
 
3NT
OL: 5
♠ Q 10 9 8 4
A 4
Q 7 2
♣ 8 6 5
  Winner List: ♠ = 0 : = 1 : = 3 : ♣ = 1 :: Total = 5

It is pretty clear that the 4 additional winners you need will be ♠s.
The danger is that when you force out the ♠A the defenders might be able to cash 4 s right away. So the immediate decision is whether you take the A on the first trick or wait until the second.

If West has only 4 s it will make no difference what you do because they will only win 3 tricks and you will make your contract. So assume that West has a 5-card suit, which means that East has 2 s.
West's suit is definitely NOT  K Q J 5 2; he would have started with the K, not the 5. So you can be sure that East holds either  K x,  Q x or  J x.
So what?


So you should play the A immediately. If East puts on his small then his lone honor will block the suit the next time it is played. But if he unblocks the honor under dummy's A then your  10 9 7 will be promoted into a second stopper.

 NEXT to see all four hands.
  ♠ K J
10 9 7 3
A K 5 3
♣ A Q 4
 

 
Deal 79
 
3NT
OL: 5
♠ Q 10 9 8 4
A 4
Q 7 2
♣ 8 6 5
  If you play low on the first trick East will win the Q and return the 6 to dummy's A. When West gains the lead with his ♠A he will cash 3 more tricks. Down 1.

Play the A on the first trick and East is hog-tied. If he plays low the suit blocks, if he sacrifices his Q then your  10 9 7 prevents West from running the suit.

Deal 80
♠ A 6 2
K J 8 5 2
9 8
♣ 10 7 3
♠ 7 5 3
Q 6
J 10 6 4
♣ K J 9 2
  ♠ K J
10 9 7 3
A K 5 3
♣ A Q 4