Deal 90	♠   ♥   ♦   ♣		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1♠  BID        The bidding has gone as shown. Decide what you would say, then click on BID above.
	♠ 8 5 ♥ Q 6 5 ♦ Q 8 2 ♣ A 9 8 6 3

 

Deal 90	♠   ♥   ♦   ♣		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1♠ pass pass 1NT pass  BID      It is good to be a little bold with your overcalls. But with a suit this tattered and only two outside Queens this is not good enough for a 2-level overcall. So you pass. Then you hear partner say 1NT. What do you bid now?
	♠ 8 5 ♥ Q 6 5 ♦ Q 8 2 ♣ A 9 8 6 3

 

Deal 90	♠ A 10 2 ♥ A 8 3 ♦ A 7 5 ♣ K Q J 4		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1♠ pass pass 1NT pass 2NT pass 3NT pass pass pass It is good to be a little bold with your overcalls. But with a suit this tattered and only two outside Queens this is not good enough for a 2-level overcall. So you pass. Then you hear partner say 1NT. What do you bid now? A 1NT overcall shows 15-18 points and a stopper(s) in their suit. With 9 points you invite with 2NT and partner bids the game. Click NEXT to continue.
	♠ 8 5 ♥ Q 6 5 ♦ Q 8 2 ♣ A 9 8 6 3

 

Deal 90	♠ A 10 2 ♥ A 8 3 ♦ A 7 5 ♣ K Q J 4		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1♠ pass pass 1NT pass 2NT pass 3NT pass pass pass The contract would be 3NT played by North. To make South the declarer click ROTATE .
	♠ 8 5 ♥ Q 6 5 ♦ Q 8 2 ♣ A 9 8 6 3

 

Deal 90   3NT OL: ♠K	♠ 8 5 ♥ Q 6 5 ♦ Q 8 2 ♣ A 9 8 6 3		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1♠ pass pass 1NT pass 2NT pass 3NT pass pass pass   South plays 3NT. West leads the ♠K. Do you hold up twice? Or just once? Or not at all? Make a Plan, then click NEXT .
	♠ A 10 2 ♥ A 8 3 ♦ A 7 5 ♣ K Q J 4

 

Deal 90   3NT OL: ♠K	♠ 8 5 ♥ Q 6 5 ♦ Q 8 2 ♣ A 9 8 6 3		Winner List: ♠ = 1 : ♥ = 1 : ♦ = 1 : ♣ = 5 :: Total = 8 You need to find one winner and it seems that it must come from one of dummy's red Queens. You are certain that West has both red Kings for his opening bid, (you and dummy have 26 HCP between you so that only leaves 14). But you also know that West has at least 5 ♠s, so if you lead toward a red Queen West will grab his red King plus 4 ♠ tricks. Does that resolve the holdup question for you?  NEXT
	♠ A 10 2 ♥ A 8 3 ♦ A 7 5 ♣ K Q J 4

 

Deal 90   3NT OL: ♠K	♠ 8 5 ♥ Q 6 5 ♦ Q 8 2 ♣ A 9 8 6 3		Winner List: ♠ = 1 : ♥ = 1 : ♦ = 1 : ♣ = 5 :: Total = 8 You need to find one winner and it seems that it must come from one of dummy's red Queens. You are certain that West has both red Kings for his opening bid, (you and dummy have 26 HCP between you so that only leaves 14). But you also know that West has at least 5 ♠s, so if you lead toward a red Queen West will grab his red King plus 4 ♠ tricks. Does that resolve the holdup question for you? Yes. You hold up ONCE, and take the ♠A at trick 2. Next you play ♣ K Q J to strip West of that suit. Then play the ♠10 to throw West into the lead. He can take his other 3 ♠ winners, but after that he must lead a red card. Of course you confidently put up dummy's Queen which will be your ninth trick. Click NEXT to see the full deal.
	♠ A 10 2 ♥ A 8 3 ♦ A 7 5 ♣ K Q J 4

 

Deal 90   3NT OL: ♠K	♠ 8 5 ♥ Q 6 5 ♦ Q 8 2 ♣ A 9 8 6 3		Hold ups are designed to disrupt enemy communication. Here you couldn't afford to hold up twice because then you would not have a throw in card left to put West on lead. But you had to hold up on the first trick to make sure East couldn't gain entry in the suit. By the way, if West had a 6-card suit this plan wouldn't work. But then, no other plan would either. Deal 91
♠ K Q J 6 3 ♥ K 9 4 ♦ K J 10 ♣ 10 5		♠ 9 7 4 ♥ J 10 7 2 ♦ 9 6 4 3 ♣ 7 2
	♠ A 10 2 ♥ A 8 3 ♦ A 7 5 ♣ K Q J 4