Deal 13     3NT	♠ ♥ ♦ ♣		WEST   NORTH   EAST   SOUTH 1♦ pass 2NT pass 3NT pass pass pass The bidding has been as shown. The contract is 3NT and it is your lead. When you have made your choice click NEXT .
♠ J 6 ♥ 9 8 5 2 ♦ 9 7 5 ♣ A Q 9 8		♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
	♠ ♥ ♦ ♣

 

Deal 13     3NT	♠ K Q 9 ♥ K 7 6 ♦ K Q 10 3 ♣ 7 4 2		Lead the ♥9, the top of nothing. Your ♣s are so good that all your instincts tell you to lead the ♣8, and perhaps set up 3 winners. If you had one more small ♣s your instincts would be right, but with only a 4-card suit you should think a little longer. Three tricks won't set this contract, so you must depend on partner winning something. And if partner is going to win something perhaps he will lead a ♣ and you might make FOUR tricks in the suit. So lead the ♥9. You lead a high card so partner won't be tempted to return the suit when he gets the lead. Note that although this lead finesses partner's ♥Q, it didn't do anything that declarer wouldn't have done on his own. Declarer must play ♦s to get some winners, and when East takes the ♦A he will surely switch to the ♣J. Down goes declarer.  Deal 14
♠ J 6 ♥ 9 8 5 2 ♦ 9 7 5 ♣ A Q 9 8		♠ 8 7 5 4 3 ♥ Q 10 3 ♦ A 4 ♣ J 10 3
	♠ A 10 2 ♥ A J 7 ♦ J 8 6 2 ♣ K 6 5