Deal 81	♠   ♥   ♦   ♣		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass  BID        The bidding has gone as shown. Decide what you would say, then click on BID above.
	♠ 9 ♥ A Q 5 ♦ A J 10 8 5 3 ♣ K J 6

 

Deal 81	♠   ♥   ♦   ♣		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass 3♦ pass 4♦ pass  BID      With 17 points and a 6-card suit you are definitely thinking about slam. The way to suggest slam to partner is to jump in a suit, so you bid 3♦. Partner says 4♦, bypassing 3NT and agreeing to your suit; what do you bid?
	♠ 9 ♥ A Q 5 ♦ A J 10 8 5 3 ♣ K J 6

 

Deal 81	♠   ♥   ♦   ♣		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass 3♦ pass 4♦ pass 4♥ pass 4♠ pass  BID    With 17 points and a 6-card suit you are definitely thinking about slam. The way to suggest slam to partner is to jump in a suit, so you bid 3♦. Partner says 4♦, bypassing 3NT and agreeing to your suit; what do you bid? Typically you start showing controls, up the line. So you bid 4♥, showing the ♥A. Partner then bids 4♠. What do you bid next?
	♠ 9 ♥ A Q 5 ♦ A J 10 8 5 3 ♣ K J 6

 

Deal 81	♠ A J 7 ♥ 7 6 4 ♦ K Q 9 7 ♣ A Q 2		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass 3♦ pass 4♦ pass 4♥ pass 4♠ pass 6♦ pass pass pass With 17 points and a 6-card suit you are definitely thinking about slam. The way to suggest slam to partner is to jump in a suit, so you bid 3♦. Partner says 4♦, bypassing 3NT and agreeing to your suit; what do you bid? Typically you start showing controls, up the line. So you bid 4♥, showing the ♥A. Partner then bids 4♠. What do you bid next? When partner shows first round ♠ control you know you don't have two quick losers, so you bid 6♦. Click NEXT to continue.
	♠ 9 ♥ A Q 5 ♦ A J 10 8 5 3 ♣ K J 6

 

Deal 81   6♦ OL: ♠K	♠ A J 7 ♥ 7 6 4 ♦ K Q 9 7 ♣ A Q 2		South plays 6♦. West leads the ♠K. You win West's opening lead with dummy's ♠A. Make a Plan, then click NEXT .
	♠ 9 ♥ A Q 5 ♦ A J 10 8 5 3 ♣ K J 6

 

Deal 81   6♦ OL: ♠K	♠ A J 7 ♥ 7 6 4 ♦ K Q 9 7 ♣ A Q 2		Loser List: ♠ = 0 : ♥ = 2 : ♦ = 0 : ♣ = 0 :: Total = 2 You only have one too many losers, and you have a very obvious finesse for the ♥K. But first you pull trumps in two rounds. Do you take the ♥ finesse now?  NEXT
	♠ 9 ♥ A Q 5 ♦ A J 10 8 5 3 ♣ K J 6

 

Deal 81   6♦ OL: ♠K	♠ A J 7 ♥ 7 6 4 ♦ K Q 9 7 ♣ A Q 2		Loser List: ♠ = 0 : ♥ = 2 : ♦ = 0 : ♣ = 0 :: Total = 2 You only have one too many losers, and you have a very obvious finesse for the ♥K. But first you pull trumps in two rounds. Do you take the ♥ finesse now? No you don't. In fact you won't need to take it at all, not with that very valuable ♠J in dummy.  NEXT
	♠ 9 ♥ A Q 5 ♦ A J 10 8 5 3 ♣ K J 6

 

Deal 81   6♦ OL: ♠K	♠ A J 7 ♥ 7 6 4 ♦ K Q 9 7 ♣ A Q 2		Loser List: ♠ = 0 : ♥ = 2 : ♦ = 0 : ♣ = 0 :: Total = 2 You only have one too many losers, and you have a very obvious finesse for the ♥K. But first you pull trumps in two rounds. Do you take the ♥ finesse now? No you don't. In fact you won't need to take it at all, not with that very valuable ♠J in dummy. Play a ♣ to dummy's ♣Q, then ruff the ♠7 in your hand. Next play ♣K, then another ♣ to dummy's ♣A. Play the ♠J from dummy and discard your ♥5. West will win this trick, (from the opening lead you knew he had the ♠Q), but he will be end-played. A ♠ or a ♣ will give you a ruff/sluff, but a ♥ will give you a free finesse into your ♥ A Q. Click NEXT to see all four hands.
	♠ 9 ♥ A Q 5 ♦ A J 10 8 5 3 ♣ K J 6

 

Deal 81   6♦ OL: ♠K	♠ A J 7 ♥ 7 6 4 ♦ K Q 9 7 ♣ A Q 2		There is no doubt that a finesse will save a contract for you sometimes. Sometimes being about 50% of the time on average. So whenever you see your contract depending on a finesse, just look again and see if perhaps an elimination play is available. Deal 82
♠ K Q 10 4 2 ♥ K 8 2 ♦ 4 ♣ 10 8 5 3		♠ 8 6 5 3 ♥ J 10 9 3 ♦ 6 2 ♣ 9 7 4
	♠ 9 ♥ A Q 5 ♦ A J 10 8 5 3 ♣ K J 6