Deal 11
 
 
 
♠ 8 6 5 3 2
A K J 5
6 5
♣ 8 3
 
 WEST  NORTH  EAST  SOUTH
1
pass3pass4
passpasspass

South is to play 4. West leads the ♣K.


Make a Plan, then click NEXT .
   
  ♠ Q
Q 10 9 7 6
A J 3
♣ A 7 4 2
 

 
Deal 11
 
   4
OL: ♣K
♠ 8 6 5 3 2
A K J 5
6 5
♣ 8 3
  South is to play 4. West leads the ♣K.

Losers:   ♠ = 1    = 0    = 2   ♣ = 3   Total = 6

Obviously you don't really have 6 losers since some of those s and ♣s can be ruffed in dummy. But if you are playing against competent defenders you will only be able to ruff two of them because every time they get the lead they will play a trump. So you must figure on ruffing 2 losers and establishing dummy's fifth ♠ for a discard of the other one.

Win the ♣A and immediately play your ♠Q. The defense will win this trick and probably play a trump. Be sure to win this in dummy and then ruff a ♠ with a high . Now exit with a ♣. They will win and probably play another trump. Win this one in dummy also, breathing a sigh of relief when s split 2-2. Ruff another ♠ with your second-last trump, then play A and concede a .

Whichever minor suit the defense plays next you ruff in dummy, then ruff the fourth ♠, establishing dummy's ♠8 while you still have a trump left in dummy. Dummy is now high.

Click NEXT for the complete Deal.
   
  ♠ Q
Q 10 9 7 6
A J 3
♣ A 7 4 2
 

 
Deal 11
 
   4
OL: ♣K
♠ 8 6 5 3 2
A K J 5
6 5
♣ 8 3
  It took a 2-2 trump split and a 4-3 ♠ split.
But that was your best shot.

 Deal 12 
♠ J 10 4
8 3
Q 9 7 2
♣ K Q J 10
♠ A K 9 7
4 2
K 10 8 4
♣ 9 6 5
  ♠ Q
Q 10 9 7 6
A J 3
♣ A 7 4 2