Deal 14	♠ Q 9 6 2 ♥ A 6 5 ♦ 8 6 4 ♣ 6 5 3		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 2NT pass 3♣ pass 3♠ pass 4♠ pass pass pass South is to play 4♠. West leads the ♦2. The defenders win 3 ♦ tricks, then play a ♣. Make a Plan, then click NEXT .
	♠ A J 10 8 ♥ K 4 ♦ Q 5 3 ♣ A K Q J

 

Deal 14      4♠ OL: ♦2	♠ Q 9 6 2 ♥ A 6 5 ♦ ♣ 6 5		South is to play 4♠. West leads the ♦2. The defenders win 3 ♦ tricks, then play a ♣. Losers:   ♠ = 0 or 1   ♥ = 0   ♦ = 3   ♣ = 0   Total = 3 or 4 Since you have already lost 3 ♦ tricks you cannot also lose a ♠ trick. That means East will have to have the ♠K and it also means that you will have to be careful with your finessing. Click NEXT .
	♠ A J 10 8 ♥ K 4 ♦ ♣ A K Q

 

Deal 14      4♠ OL: ♦2	♠ Q 9 6 2 ♥ A 6 5 ♦ ♣ 6 5		South is to play 4♠. West leads the ♦2. The defenders win 3 ♦ tricks, then play a ♣. Losers:   ♠ = 0 or 1   ♥ = 0   ♦ = 3   ♣ = 0   Total = 3 or 4 Since you have already lost 3 ♦ tricks you cannot also lose a ♠ trick. That means East will have to have the ♠K and it also means that you will have to be careful with your finessing. In your hand with a ♣ you play over to dummy's ♥A. Now lead the ♠Q from dummy and when East plays low play the ♠J (or 10) from your hand. Click NEXT .
	♠ A J 10 8 ♥ K 4 ♦ ♣ A K Q

 

Deal 14      4♠ OL: ♦2	♠ 9 6 2 ♥ 6 5 ♦ ♣ 6 5		South is to play 4♠. West leads the ♦2. The defenders win 3 ♦ tricks, then play a ♣. Losers:   ♠ = 0 or 1   ♥ = 0   ♦ = 3   ♣ = 0   Total = 3 or 4 Since you have already lost 3 ♦ tricks you cannot also lose a ♠ trick. That means East will have to have the ♠K and it also means that you will have to be careful with your finessing. In your hand with a ♣ you play over to dummy's ♥A. Now lead the ♠Q from dummy and when East plays low play the ♠J (or 10) from your hand. The ♠Q held the trick so you are still in dummy. Play the ♠9, and when East doesn't cover, play your ♠8 under it. West shows out on this trick and you are glad you played so carefully. Play one more ♠, finessing East's ♠K again, then play your ♠A and the rest of your winners. Click NEXT for the complete Deal.
	♠ A J 8 ♥ K ♦ ♣ A K Q

 

Deal 14      4♠ OL: ♦2	♠ Q 9 6 2 ♥ A 6 5 ♦ 8 6 4 ♣ 6 5 3		If you had played the ♠Q and carelessly followed with the ♠8 on your first finesse you would have gone down. You would have had to win the second finesse in your hand and would have no dummy entry to let you take the third finesse. True, the chances of East holding 4 ♠s to the King are pretty small, but it costs you nothing to protect yourself against that holding. And the rewards are great.  Deal 15
♠ 7 ♥ Q 10 8 3 ♦ K J 9 2 ♣ 9 8 4 2		♠ K 5 4 3 ♥ J 9 7 2 ♦ A 10 7 ♣ 10 7
	♠ A J 10 8 ♥ K 4 ♦ Q 5 3 ♣ A K Q J