Deal 84	♠   ♥   ♦   ♣		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass  BID      The bidding has gone as shown. Decide what you would say, then click on BID above.
	♠ K 6 3 ♥ A K J 2 ♦ 8 5 2 ♣ 7 6 4

 

Deal 84	♠ A J 7 ♥ Q 8 6 4 ♦ A Q 6 ♣ A 10 3		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass 3NT pass pass pass   Holding a 4-card ♥ suit some bidders would use Stayman. However, when you have 4-3-3-3 distribution there is little chance of ruffing so others prefer not to use Stayman. You take the latter view and bid 3NT with your 11 points. Click NEXT to continue.
	♠ K 6 3 ♥ A K J 2 ♦ 8 5 2 ♣ 7 6 4

 

Deal 84	♠ A J 7 ♥ Q 8 6 4 ♦ A Q 6 ♣ A 10 3		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass 3NT pass pass pass   The contract would be 3NT played by North. To make South the declarer click ROTATE .
	♠ K 6 3 ♥ A K J 2 ♦ 8 5 2 ♣ 7 6 4

 

Deal 84   3NT OL: ♣K	♠ K 6 3 ♥ A K J 2 ♦ 8 5 2 ♣ 7 6 4		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass 3NT pass pass pass South plays 3NT. West leads the ♣K and East follows with the ♣5. Do you hold up? If so, how many times? Make a Plan, then click NEXT .
	♠ A J 7 ♥ Q 8 6 4 ♦ A Q 6 ♣ A 10 3

 

Deal 84   3NT OL: ♣K	♠ K 6 3 ♥ A K J 2 ♦ 8 5 2 ♣ 7 6 4		Winner List: ♠ = 2 : ♥ = 4 : ♦ = 1 : ♣ = 1 :: Total = 8 Your ninth trick will be either the ♠J or the ♦Q. In both cases the finesse would be into the West hand so the question of disrupting opponent's communications doesn't arise - East is not going to get the lead. Nonetheless it is a good idea to hold up - but only once.  NEXT
	♠ A J 7 ♥ Q 8 6 4 ♦ A Q 6 ♣ A 10 3

 

Deal 84   3NT OL: ♣K	♠ K 6 3 ♥ A K J 2 ♦ 8 5 2 ♣ 7 6 4		Winner List: ♠ = 2 : ♥ = 4 : ♦ = 1 : ♣ = 1 :: Total = 8 Your ninth trick will be either the ♠Q or the ♦K. In both cases the finesse would be into the West hand so the question of disrupting opponent's communications doesn't arise - East is not going to get the lead. Nonetheless it is a good idea to hold up - but only once. West then plays the ♣Q which you win as East follows. Next you run four ♥ tricks, ending in dummy. You play dummy's ♠K, your sixth trick so far. It is crunch time. Do you now finesse for the ♦K or the ♠Q?  NEXT
	♠ A J 7 ♥ Q 8 6 4 ♦ A Q 6 ♣ A 10 3

 

Deal 84   3NT OL: ♣K	♠ K 6 3 ♥ A K J 2 ♦ 8 5 2 ♣ 7 6 4		Winner List: ♠ = 2 : ♥ = 4 : ♦ = 1 : ♣ = 1 :: Total = 8 Your ninth trick will be either the ♠Q or the ♦K. In both cases the finesse would be into the West hand so the question of disrupting opponent's communications doesn't arise - East is not going to get the lead. Nonetheless it is a good idea to hold up - but only once. West then plays the ♣Q which you win as East follows. Next you run four ♥ tricks, ending in dummy. You play dummy's ♠K, your sixth trick so far. It is crunch time. Do you now finesse for the ♦K or the ♠Q? The answer is NO, you do not take either finesse. Instead you play a ♣, hoping West must take the trick. And he does. West then cashes two more ♣ tricks but then he is out of ♣s. Since he is also out of ♥s he is going to have to play either a ♠ or a ♦, either one of which will make you very happy! Click NEXT  for the full deal.
	♠ A J 7 ♥ Q 8 6 4 ♦ A Q 6 ♣ A 10 3

 

Deal 84   3NT OL: ♣K	♠ K 6 3 ♥ A K J 2 ♦ 8 5 2 ♣ 7 6 4		The reason for holding up on the first ♣ but taking the second was to keep your options open for the endplay. If East had not followed to the second ♣ you might not have been able to use the endplay. Instead you would have run the ♥s, and if West did not discard a ♣, you would have to guess as to which finesse to try. With the cards as shown neither would have worked. Deal 85
♠ Q 8 2 ♥ 9 ♦ K 9 7 4 ♣ K Q J 9 2		♠ 10 9 5 4 ♥ 10 7 5 3 ♦ J 10 3 ♣ 8 5
	♠ A J 7 ♥ Q 8 6 4 ♦ A Q 6 ♣ A 10 3