Deal 89
 
 
 
♠  
 
 
♣  
 
 WEST  NORTH  EAST  SOUTH
1NTpass BID 
 

The bidding has gone as shown.
Decide what you would say, then click on BID above.
  ♠ A 7 5 4 2
6 5 3
10 6 5
♣ 8 4
 

 
Deal 89
 
 
 
♠ 9 6 3
A K 2
A 4 3
♣ A 7 5 2
 
 WEST  NORTH  EAST  SOUTH
1NTpasspass
pass

Here is the question.
Is 2♠ a better contract than 1NT?
If so, you should transfer partner, then pass.
If not, you should just pass now.
With just a 5-card suit, and with no singleton, pass is probably better.

Click NEXT to continue.
  ♠ A 7 5 4 2
6 5 3
10 6 5
♣ 8 4
 

 
Deal 89
 
 
 
♠ 9 6 3
A K 2
A 4 3
♣ A 7 5 2
 
 WEST  NORTH  EAST  SOUTH
1NTpasspass
pass

The contract would be 1NT played by North.

To make South the declarer click ROTATE .
  ♠ A 7 5 4 2
6 5 3
10 6 5
♣ 8 4
 

 
Deal 89
 
1NT
OL: J
♠ A 7 5 4 2
6 5 3
10 6 5
♣ 8 4
 
 WEST  NORTH  EAST  SOUTH
1NT
passpasspass

South plays 1NT.
West leads the J and East plays the Q.

Do you hold up or not?

Make a Plan, then click NEXT .
  ♠ 9 6 3
A K 2
A 4 3
♣ A 7 5 2
 

 
Deal 89
 
1NT
OL: J
♠ A 7 5 4 2
6 5 3
10 6 5
♣ 8 4
  Winner List: ♠ = 1 : = 2 : = 1 : ♣ = 1 :: Total = 5

Outside ♠s you have 6 combined cards in each suit, so you must assume that you aren't any worse off in s than in one of the minors. And, in s you have 2 stops. So don't hold up.

You need 2 additional ♠ winners, but dummy has but one entry. So?

 NEXT 
  ♠ 9 6 3
A K 2
A 4 3
♣ A 7 5 2
 

 
Deal 89
 
1NT
OL: J
♠ A 7 5 4 2
6 5 3
10 6 5
♣ 8 4
  Winner List: ♠ = 1 : = 2 : = 1 : ♣ = 1 :: Total = 5

Outside ♠s you have 6 combined cards in each suit, so you must assume that you aren't any worse off in s than in one of the minors. And, in s you have 2 stops. So don't hold up.

You need 2 additional ♠ winners, but dummy has but one entry. So?


So you must duck twice. Win the K and play a low ♠ from each hand. A defender will win and probably continue s.

Win the A and play another low ♠ from each hand. West wins and cashes 3 s. He then plays the ♣Q.

 NEXT 
  ♠ 9 6 3
A K 2
A 4 3
♣ A 7 5 2
 

 
Deal 89
 
1NT
OL: J
♠ A 7 5 4 2
6 5 3
10 6 5
♣ 8 4
  Winner List: ♠ = 1 : = 2 : = 1 : ♣ = 1 :: Total = 5

Outside ♠s you have 6 combined cards in each suit, so you must assume that you aren't any worse off in s than in one of the minors. And, in s you have 2 stops. So don't hold up.

You need 2 additional ♠ winners, but dummy has but one entry. So?

So you must duck twice. Win the K and play a low ♠ from each hand. A defender will win and probably continue s.

Win the A and play another low ♠ from each hand. West wins and cashes 3 s. He then plays the ♣Q.


You win the ♣A and take the A and the 3 good ♠s in dummy. The 4 high cards from your hand plus the 3 ♠ tricks from dummy add up to 7. Hallelujah.

Click NEXT  for the full deal.
  ♠ 9 6 3
A K 2
A 4 3
♣ A 7 5 2
 

 
Deal 89
 
1NT
OL: J
♠ A 7 5 4 2
6 5 3
10 6 5
♣ 8 4
  They say 1NT is the hardest contract to make. (whoever THEY are).

But since they may be right you need to be on the lookout for ducking plays because one entry in dummy may be all you are going to have.

Deal 90
♠ Q 8
J 10 9 8 4
K 8 7 2
♣ Q 10
♠ K J 10
Q 7
Q J 9
♣ K J 9 6 3
  ♠ 9 6 3
A K 2
A 4 3
♣ A 7 5 2