Deal 5	♠ A Q 8 2 ♥ 7 5 3 ♦ Q 6 4 ♣ A 9 5		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1NT pass 3NT pass pass pass With his 4-3-3-3 distribution North chooses not to bother with Stayman. South is to play 3NT. West leads the ♥6. East plays the ♥J. Make a Plan, then click NEXT .
	♠ J 10 9 4 ♥ K Q 2 ♦ A K 9 ♣ K 7 6

 

Deal 5      3NT OL: ♥6	♠ A Q 8 2 ♥ 7 5 3 ♦ Q 6 4 ♣ A 9 5		South is to play 3NT. West leads the ♥6. East plays the ♥J. Winners:   ♠ = 1   ♥ = 1   ♦ = 3   ♣ = 2   Total = 7 You need to get two more winners. The ♥ suit might provide one of them, but you will still have to establish ♠s. The burning question is whether to win the first ♥ or to hold up. If you take this trick you will have a second stopper if West takes the lead, but you will be in extreme danger if East takes the lead. Since the ♠ finesse has to go into East you should hold up. East returns the ♥9, West takes the ♥A and clears the suit. Click NEXT .
	♠ J 10 9 4 ♥ K Q 2 ♦ A K 9 ♣ K 7 6

 

Deal 5      3NT OL: ♥6	♠ A Q 8 2 ♥ ♦ Q 6 4 ♣ A 9 5		South is to play 3NT. West leads the ♥6. East plays the ♥J. Winners:   ♠ = 1   ♥ = 1   ♦ = 3   ♣ = 2   Total = 7 You need to get two more winners. The ♥ suit might provide one of them, but you will still have to establish ♠s. The burning question is whether to win the first ♥ or to hold up. If you take this trick you will have a second stopper if West takes the lead, but you will be in extreme danger if East takes the lead. Since the ♠ finesse has to go into East you should hold up. East returns the ♥9, West takes the ♥A and clears the suit. You have lost two tricks so far. Lead the ♠J and let it ride. East wins their third trick with the ♠K but has no ♥ to return so he plays a ♦ which you win with your ♦A. Click NEXT .
	♠ J 10 9 4 ♥ ♦ A K 9 ♣ K 7 6

 

Deal 5      3NT OL: ♥6	♠ A Q 8 ♥ ♦ Q 6 ♣ A 9 5		South is to play 3NT. West leads the ♥6. East plays the ♥J. Winners:   ♠ = 1   ♥ = 1   ♦ = 3   ♣ = 2   Total = 7 You need to get two more winners. The ♥ suit might provide one of them, but you will still have to establish ♠s. The burning question is whether to win the first ♥ or to hold up. If you take this trick you will have a second stopper if West takes the lead, but you will be in extreme danger if East takes the lead. Since the ♠ finesse has to go into East you should hold up. East returns the ♥9, West takes the ♥A and clears the suit. You have lost two tricks so far. Lead the ♠J and let it ride. East wins their third trick with the ♠K but has no ♥ to return so he plays a ♦ which you win with your ♦A. Play off your 7 winners and give up a ♣ at the end. Click NEXT to see the full Deal.
	♠ 10 9 4 ♥ ♦ K 9 ♣ K 7 6

 

Deal 5      3NT OL: ♥6	♠ A Q 8 2 ♥ 7 5 3 ♦ Q 6 4 ♣ A 9 5		The K Q x holding is similar to the A J x holding. It might be two stoppers, or might just be one, depending on which defender next leads the suit. So you decide whether to hold up or not based on how you expect to play the hand.  Deal 6
♠ 6 ♥ A 10 8 6 4 ♦ 10 7 3 ♣ J 8 3 2		♠ K 7 5 3 ♥ J 9 ♦ J 8 5 2 ♣ Q 10 4
	♠ J 10 9 4 ♥ K Q 2 ♦ A K 9 ♣ K 7 6