Deal 8	♠ Q 10 6 2 ♥ K 7 6 ♦ A Q J 9 ♣ 9 5		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1♣ 1♠ pass 2♣ pass 4♠ pass pass pass North's 2♣ cue-bid shows a limit-raise or better in ♠s. South is to play 4♠. West leads the ♣2. East plays the ♣K. Make a Plan, then click NEXT .
	♠ A K J 8 7 5 ♥ 8 3 ♦ 10 5 2 ♣ A J

 

Deal 8      4♠ OL: ♣2	♠ Q 10 6 2 ♥ K 7 6 ♦ A Q J 9 ♣ 9 5		South is to play 4♠. West leads the ♣2. East plays the ♣K. Losers:   ♠ = 0   ♥ = 2   ♦ = 1   ♣ = 1   Total = 4 You have one loser too many. If West holds either the ♥A or the ♦K this will be an easy contract, but East opened the bidding so he probably has most of the high cards. It does look like West holds the ♣Q based on his low lead and East's play to trick one. Having gone through that thought process what is your Plan? Click NEXT .
	♠ A K J 8 7 5 ♥ 8 3 ♦ 10 5 2 ♣ A J

 

Deal 8      4♠ OL: ♣2	♠ Q 10 6 2 ♥ K 7 6 ♦ A Q J 9 ♣ 9 5		South is to play 4♠. West leads the ♣2. East plays the ♣K. Losers:   ♠ = 0   ♥ = 2   ♦ = 1   ♣ = 1   Total = 4 You have one loser too many. If West holds either the ♥A or the ♦K this will be an easy contract, but East opened the bidding so he probably has most of the high cards. It does look like West holds the ♣Q based on his low lead and East's play to trick one. Having gone through that thought process what is your Plan? You will need to discard a loser on dummy's fourth ♦, but you must do so without ever letting West gain the lead since West is the defender who can lead through dummy's ♥K. And the only card that West can get the lead with is the ♣Q. Hold-ups are usually used in notrump hands, but here you use one to prevent the Danger Hand from gaining the lead. Let East have the ♣K. He cannot play a red card without helping you so he will surely play another ♣. Click NEXT .
	♠ A K J 8 7 5 ♥ 8 3 ♦ 10 5 2 ♣ A J

 

Deal 8      4♠ OL: ♣2	♠ Q 10 6 2 ♥ K 7 6 ♦ A Q J 9 ♣		South is to play 4♠. West leads the ♣2. East plays the ♣K. Losers:   ♠ = 0   ♥ = 2   ♦ = 1   ♣ = 1   Total = 4 You have one loser too many. If West holds either the ♥A or the ♦K this will be an easy contract, but East opened the bidding so he probably has most of the high cards. It does look like West holds the ♣Q based on his low lead and East's play to trick one. Having gone through that thought process what is your Plan? You will need to discard a loser on dummy's fourth ♦, but you must do so without ever letting West gain the lead since West is the defender who can lead through dummy's ♥K. And the only card that West can get the lead with is the ♣Q. Hold-ups are usually used in notrump hands, but here you use one to prevent the Danger Hand from gaining the lead. Let East have the ♣K. He cannot play a red card without helping you so he will surely play another ♣. Pull trumps in two rounds. Then play the ♦10 and let it ride. Click NEXT .
	♠ A K J 8 7 5 ♥ 8 3 ♦ 10 5 2 ♣

 

Deal 8      4♠ OL: ♣2	♠ Q 10 ♥ K 7 6 ♦ A Q J ♣		South is to play 4♠. West leads the ♣2. East plays the ♣K. Losers:   ♠ = 0   ♥ = 2   ♦ = 1   ♣ = 1   Total = 4 You have one loser too many. If West holds either the ♥A or the ♦K this will be an easy contract, but East opened the bidding so he probably has most of the high cards. It does look like West holds the ♣Q based on his low lead and East's play to trick one. Having gone through that thought process what is your Plan? You will need to discard a loser on dummy's fourth ♦, but you must do so without ever letting West gain the lead since West is the defender who can lead through dummy's ♥K. And the only card that West can get the lead with is the ♣Q. Hold-ups are usually used in notrump hands, but here you use one to prevent the Danger Hand from gaining the lead. Let East have the ♣K. He cannot play a red card without helping you so he will surely play another ♣. Pull trumps in two rounds. Then play the ♦10 and let it ride. East will win this but he is helpless. Whatever he plays you will be able to discard a ♥ loser on dummy's ♦. Click NEXT for the complete Deal.
	♠ J 8 7 5 ♥ 8 3 ♦ 5 2 ♣

 

Deal 8      4♠ OL: ♣2	♠ Q 10 6 2 ♥ K 7 6 ♦ A Q J 9 ♣ 9 5		The purpose of the hold-up play is to cut communications between the two defenders. Here you knew you would lose exactly one ♣ trick so you chose to lose it to East, the Safe Hand. If you had taken the first ♣ trick East would have won your later ♦ finesse, put his partner on lead with the ♣Q and then swallowed up your ♥K. Of course if West had been clever enough to lead a ♥ originally this Deal wouldn't be here.  Deal 9
♠ 9 3 ♥ J 9 5 4 ♦ 8 7 3 ♣ Q 7 4 2		♠ 4 ♥ A Q 10 2 ♦ K 6 4 ♣ K 10 8 6 3
	♠ A K J 8 7 5 ♥ 8 3 ♦ 10 5 2 ♣ A J