Deal 18	♠ K J 4 ♥ Q J 10 5 3 ♦ 7 5 4 ♣ 8 2		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH pass pass pass 1♦ pass 1♥ pass 2NT pass 3NT pass pass pass South is to play 3NT. West leads the ♠2, you play dummy's ♠4 and East plays the ♠8. Make a Plan, then click NEXT .
	♠ A 10 5 ♥ 9 7 ♦ A K 6 3 ♣ A K 9 5

 

Deal 18      3NT OL: ♠2	♠ K J 4 ♥ Q J 10 5 3 ♦ 7 5 4 ♣ 8 2		South is to play 3NT. West leads the ♠2, you play dummy's ♠4 and East plays the ♠8. Winners:   ♠ = 3   ♥ = 0   ♦ = 2   ♣ = 2   Total = 7 Needing just two more winners it looks straightforward to establish dummy's ♥ suit. Suppose you win the ♠10 and play the ♥9. If the defenders win this trick you are home free. You win their ♠ return with your ♠A, then continue ♥s to drive out their last stopper while you still have the ♠K as a dummy entry. This won't work against good defenders, who will hold up on the first ♥ trick and win the second. Then when they continue ♠s you won't have another ♥ to return to dummy, so while you can use the ♠K as an entry to establish the ♥s you will never get back to use the good ones. Instead you should win the first trick with your ♠A. Now when you attack ♥s a defensive holdup won't hurt you because you have TWO ♠ entries, the ♠J by a finesse and the ♠K. Click NEXT for the complete Deal.
	♠ A 10 5 ♥ 9 7 ♦ A K 6 3 ♣ A K 9 5

 

Deal 18      3NT OL: ♠2	♠ K J 4 ♥ Q J 10 5 3 ♦ 7 5 4 ♣ 8 2		West is almost certain to hold the ♠Q because his ♠2 opening lead promises an honor and the ♠Q is the only one you don't have. So the ♠ finesse is an odds-on play to get a second dummy entry.  Deal 19
♠ Q 9 7 2 ♥ K 6 4 ♦ 10 8 2 ♣ Q 6 3		♠ 8 6 3 ♥ A 8 2 ♦ Q J 9 ♣ J 10 7 4
	♠ A 10 5 ♥ 9 7 ♦ A K 6 3 ♣ A K 9 5