Deal 7
 
 
 
♠ 7 5 4
5 3
A 9 5
♣ J 10 9 8 3
 
 WEST  NORTH  EAST  SOUTH
33NT
passpasspass

South is to play 3NT.
West leads the 4. East plays the 10.

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

 
Deal 7
 
   3NT
OL: 4
♠ 7 5 4
5 3
A 9 5
♣ J 10 9 8 3
  South is to play 3NT.
West leads the 4. East plays the 10.


Winners:   ♠ = 1    = 1    = 3   ♣ = 1   Total = 6

You may not agree with South's 3NT bid but how else are you going to get to the only game that has a chance of making?

You need 3 extra winners and they will come from the ♣ suit even if West holds the ♣K and wins your finesse. You may think about holding up on the A for one round just to make sure West has none if he wins the ♣K.

That would be a mistake. It is almost certain that East has a 7-card suit for his preemptive opening. This is confirmed by West's lead of the 4, with a doubleton he would have led a higher card. So there is no need to hold up.
But . . . it couldn't hurt, could it?

Click NEXT .
   
  ♠ A 9 2
A 9 2
K Q 4
♣ A Q 7 6
 

 
Deal 7
 
   3NT
OL: 4
♠ 7 5 4
5 3
A 9 5
♣ J 10 9 8 3
  South is to play 3NT.
West leads the 4. East plays the 10.

Winners:   ♠ = 1    = 1    = 3   ♣ = 1   Total = 6

You may not agree with South's 3NT bid but how else are you going to get to the only game that has a chance of making?

You need 3 extra winners and they will come from the ♣ suit even if West holds the ♣K and wins your finesse. You may think about holding up on the A for one round just to make sure West has none if he wins the ♣K.

That would be a mistake. It is almost certain that East has a 7-card suit for his preemptive opening. This is confirmed by West's lead of the 4, with a doubleton he would have led a higher card. So there is no need to hold up.
But . . . it couldn't hurt, could it?


Yes, it could hurt real bad!
Suppose East has nothing in his hand but the K Q J 10 8 7 6 that you already know about. When you let his 10 win the first trick he will realize that his hand is dead. And he may be smart enough, (or lucky enough), to switch to a ♠.

Click NEXT to see why you should definitely win the first trick, then enter dummy with the A and take the ♣ finesse.
   
  ♠ A 9 2
A 9 2
K Q 4
♣ A Q 7 6
 

 
Deal 7
 
   3NT
OL: 4
♠ 7 5 4
5 3
A 9 5
♣ J 10 9 8 3
  The purpose of the hold-up play is to cut communications between the two defenders. So the general guideline is to hold up until you are sure one of the defenders is void in the suit - maybe twice, maybe only once, and in this case not at all.

But one of the important considerations you have to think about is the possibility that the Defense will switch to another suit - where you might be in even more trouble.

You'd feel bad on this hand if you let East hold the 10 only to see him next lay down the ♠J.

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