Deal 96	♠   ♥   ♦   ♣		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass  BID        The bidding has gone as shown. Decide what you would say, then click on BID above.
	♠ A 8 7 6 3 2 ♥ 8 ♦ K 10 5 ♣ 9 8 2

 

Deal 96	♠   ♥   ♦   ♣		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass 2♥ pass 2♠ pass  BID      You have an invitational strength hand with a 6-card Major suit. It's a no-brainer; you transfer with a 2♥ bid. Partner says 2♠; what do you bid next?
	♠ A 8 7 6 3 2 ♥ 8 ♦ K 10 5 ♣ 9 8 2

 

Deal 96	♠ K 5 ♥ A 6 4 ♦ 9 6 2 ♣ A K Q 6 3		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass 2♥ pass 2♠ pass 3♠ pass 4♠ pass pass pass You have an invitational strength hand with a 6-card Major suit. It's a no-brainer; you transfer with a 2♥ bid. Partner says 2♠; what do you bid next? Repeat: You have an invitational strength hand with a 6-card Major suit. So you invite with 3♠s. Partner accepts with 4♠. Click NEXT to continue.
	♠ A 8 7 6 3 2 ♥ 8 ♦ K 10 5 ♣ 9 8 2

 

Deal 96	♠ K 5 ♥ A 6 4 ♦ 9 6 2 ♣ A K Q 6 3		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass 2♥ pass 2♠ pass 3♠ pass 4♠ pass pass pass The contract would be 4♠ played by North. To make South the declarer click ROTATE .
	♠ A 8 7 6 3 2 ♥ 8 ♦ K 10 5 ♣ 9 8 2

 

Deal 96   4♠ OL: ♥Q	♠ A 8 7 6 3 2 ♥ 8 ♦ K 10 5 ♣ 9 8 2		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass 2♥ pass 2♠ pass 3♠ pass 4♠ pass pass pass South plays 4♠. West leads the ♥Q. Of course you take the ♥A. Make a Plan, then click NEXT .
	♠ K 5 ♥ A 6 4 ♦ 9 6 2 ♣ A K Q 6 3

 

Deal 96   4♠ OL: ♥Q	♠ A 8 7 6 3 2 ♥ 8 ♦ K 10 5 ♣ 9 8 2		Loser List: ♠ = 1/2/3 : ♥ = 0 : ♦ = 3 : ♣ = 0 :: Total = 4/5/6 Missing 5 ♠s, the most likely split is 3-2, (68% of the time). You win the ♥A then play ♠K and ♠A, both defenders following to both leads but the ♠Q is still out there. Do you play ♠s again or not?  NEXT
	♠ K 5 ♥ A 6 4 ♦ 9 6 2 ♣ A K Q 6 3

 

Deal 96   4♠ OL: ♥Q	♠ A 8 7 6 3 2 ♥ 8 ♦ K 10 5 ♣ 9 8 2		Loser List: ♠ = 1/2/3 : ♥ = 0 : ♦ = 3 : ♣ = 0 :: Total = 4/5/6 Missing 5 ♠s, the most likely split is 3-2, (68% of the time). You win the ♥A then play ♠K and ♠A, both defenders following to both leads but the ♠Q is still out there. Do you play ♠s again or not? Usually it is a good idea to leave a master trump un-pulled and go about your business winning tricks in other suits. The idea is to force them to ruff without using any more of your trumps. But that is only "usually". Here your big source of winners is going to be the ♣ suit - and there are zero outside entries to it. Suppose you do not force out the ♠Q, but start playing ♣ winners. A defender might ruff the third ♣ and you would be doomed. So play one more ♠ and they are doomed. Click NEXT to see the full deal.
	♠ K 5 ♥ A 6 4 ♦ 9 6 2 ♣ A K Q 6 3

 

Deal 96   4♠ OL: ♥Q	♠ A 8 7 6 3 2 ♥ 8 ♦ K 10 5 ♣ 9 8 2		Master trump outstanding: To pull or not to pull, that is the question. Almost always the answer is "not to pull". The big exception is when you have a running suit in one hand but with no outside entries to it. A hand exactly like this one. Deal 97
♠ J 9 ♥ Q J 9 7 3 ♦ Q 8 4 ♣ 10 7 4		♠ Q 10 4 ♥ K 10 5 2 ♦ A J 7 3 ♣ J 5
	♠ K 5 ♥ A 6 4 ♦ 9 6 2 ♣ A K Q 6 3