ch1,hd1counting winners#(d L A442*('1,)-0.3    " + !#%&/$4 south, with a balanced hand with 16-18 points opens 1NT. North, with 10 points, also has a balanced hand and enough for game, so bids 3NT, which ends the auction. After the king of spades lead, South has 9 tricks, 1s,5d,3c. You can try to hold up to the 3rd round, cash the 9 tricks ending in dummt, and lead a heart to the king, hoping east has the ace.ch1,hd2taking winnersFp@ *   $ !#"&.   ( ),'13 %-0*+2/4 North with a balanced hand but not enough to open 1NT, opens the better minor, 1D. South with a minimum hand, no support for minor, and no badable suit on the one level, responds 1NT, which ends the auction. After the heart lead, south has 7 tricks, 1s,1h,1d,4c. key play here is the clubs. Honor from the short hand, cashing the queen first so as to not block the suit.ch1,hd3counting losers@ @- R  @BB & $!"%',-(+1*30)/. # 24 north opens 1NT, and south, with 10 points (8HCP+2dist points for the 6 card suit) responds 4H, which ends the auction. The key play here is we have only 3 losers(2s,1c), so we need to pull trumps ASAP. East could potentially score a diamond ruff to set the contract if declarer is not careful.ch1,hd4drawing trumps)j T R @## )3('  /2*+,1.- %"$#& 0!4 South opens the bidding 1S, and North, with a minimum hand with spade support, raises to 2S, which ends the auction. South has only 5 losers, 1s,0h,2d,2c, so south must pull trumps to prevent the opponents from ruffing good tricks. West could potentially ruff a heart trick if trumps are not drawn.ch2,hd1promotion in a NT contract  A 04 "1'.3#"$& )*/-(2+%!    , 04 South opens 1D. West does not quite have enough to overcall. North responds 1H. South rebids 1NT, which ends the auction. After the queen of spades lead, South has 4 tricks, and needs to develop 3 more. Looks like the hearts can provide enough tricks. We must be careful to win the spade lead in the south hand to preserve entry to the dummy. We must also use honor from the short side in developing hearts, playing the jack first, or the suit could get blocked.ch2,hd2promotion in a suit contract DM`!F #C C%! &"(#3'*,2.+-    1)/0$4 North opens the bidding 1C, south responds 1S, north with minimum hand with support raises to 2S, and South with mmaximum goes to 4S. After the King of hearts lead, declarer has only 3 losers, so declarer must pull trumps ASAP to prevent the opponents from ruffing any good tricks. After pulling trumps, force out the ace of diamonds for 10 tricks. If trumps are not pulled right away, West could possibly score a diamond ruff to set the contract.ch2,hd3using length in a NT contractDA2:)@@$4 4    %"('+$&-,3) !/02*#.14 ch2,hd4Using Length in a suit contractA1!  EH#3C C&!$'3(,*)+0/2-. %#1  " 4 South opens the bidding 1S, North with minimum, raises to 2S. South, with medium, rebids 3S, North , with upper end of minimum, goes to game. After AH lead by west, South has possibly 4 losers, 1H, 1C, and 2D. South needs the diamond suit to break 3-2 to hold diamond losers to 1. When South gets on lead with the trump on the 2nd round of hearts, South must pull trump to prevent opponents from ruffing any good tricks. Then South must go after diamonds and hope for the expected 3-2 split.ch3,hd1Taking a finesse Bp[$"BB*'1(2),30 -/".&%    #$!+4 East opens the bidding 1S. South overcalls 2H. North raises to game in hearts, which ends the auction. After 3 rounds of spades, South must first ruff high on the 4th round of spades. There are already 3 spades lost, and there is a possible diamond to lose as well. However, it may be possible to finesse the queen of diamonds to pick up the extra trick needed.ch3,hd2a repeated finesse D D "JP0344 ' )*0( -.1+3,/2  &"%!$#4 East opens 1D, Soouth overcalls 1NT, and North replies 3NT, which ends the auction. After the 8D lead by West, South has 7 winners, and needs 2 more to make the contract. It appears the spades can produce the 2 extra tricks needed, provided the spade finesse works. It is likely to, as East opened the bidding. Hold up on the diamond until the 3rd round, enter the dummy with a club, and take the spade finesse. Reenter the dummy with another club, and repeat the spade finesse. Then cash winners for 9 tricks.ch3,hd3finessing against 2 cardsQ(!L@(1## -/'1* &% 3+(,2.) 0#$ "!4 East opens the bidding 1D, South overcalls 1S, and North raises to 2S, which ends the auction. After the QD lead, South has 6 possible losers, 2H, 2D, and 2C. It appears that the club finesse gives us the best chance to pick up the extra trick we need. Ruff the third round of diamonds, play a trump to the Q and finesse the club. It loses, but West cannot continue diamonds. Win the heart return and finesse the club again. It works. Pull remaining trump and cash the 8 tricks.ch3,hd4leading the high card:0"@D @ !"B B" #& %  3-(')2,* +$01.!/4 South opens the bidding 1H, West overcalls 2D, North raises to 2H, and with a maximum, South rebids 4H, which ends the auction. South has 4 losers, 1S, 1H, and 2D. Not much can be done about the spade or diamond losers, but maybe the heart finesse will work. As there are no more entries to the dummy after the ace of diamonds, care must be taken to play the 10 of hearts from dummy, as if the finesse works, you are in position to repeat the finesse.ch4,hd1discarding a loserEiA)#3C C   '*+3  (.)2%&!"10/-,$# 4 South opens the bidding 1S, West makes a takeout double, North raises to 2S. East passes, as they do not have enough to make a free bid. South with medium hand rebids 3S, and North with manimum for the minimum range goes to 4S, which ends the auction. After the KC lead, South has 4 losers, and they are quick losers. South can get a quick discard on the diamond in dummy. Cash QD (honor from the short side) and a diamond to the A and pitch a club loser on the diamond. Now trumps can be pulled. 10 tricks made.ch4,hd2more discardsA'dXi#C C$&    #'),2%"(*3-+ /.0!1 4 West opens the bidding 1H, North makes a takeout double. East passes. South jumps to 2S to show medium values. North, with 15 points, jumps to game, which ends the auction. After a heart lead, South has 4 quick losers, and cannot afford to pull trumps right away. It appears that a pitch is needed, and it appears that a loser can be discarded on the club in dummy. South wins the AH, cashes the KC (honor from the short hand) and then a club to dummy. South pitches a heart on 3rd club (diamond pitch doesn't help with losers)ch4,hd3Ruffing a loser"D@*! @" " & $#  "%!)-3(2*+01,. '/4 West opens 1D, and North doubles for takeout. South responds 1H, and North, with medium values, raises to 2H, which ends the auction. South has 6 or 7 losers, 2 or 3 hearts, 3d, and a club. South must hope the hearts split 3-2 and to ruff a diamond in dummy to cut losers to the 5 needed to make the contract. On thi third diamond, South ruffs, and now plays the ace and another trump, hoping for the 3-2 break.ch4,hd4More losers to ruff (RL. @   ""   &%"# )(2'/.*3+,0$ 1- !4 West opens 1C, North doubles for takeout.East raises to 2C, and South responds 2H to the takeout double, ending the auction. After a club lead, and assuming a 3-2 break in hearts, south has 6 losers, 2s, 1h, 1d, 2c. South needs to ruff a club in dummy to get rid of the club loser. 3 rounds of clubs, and the club is ruffed in dummy. The AK of hearts show the suit is splitting 3-2, and force the Ad out for 8 tricks.ch5,hd1Using entries for a finesse PUM0" " B #C C (%'.1*!&)3,/"$#2+0     -4 South opens the bidding 1NT. North bids 2C, Stayman, South responds 2S, showing 4S, and North jumps to game in spades. After QD lead, declarer had 2D losers and possibly 2S losers. South must hope East has the A of spades. Ruff the 3rd diamond, playa heart to dummy and lead a spade toward the KQ of spades. It holds the 1st time. Lead another heart to win in dummy and repeat spade finesse. 10 tricks made.ch5,hd2Watch entries whil promotingwinnersR P(2 #D !$ $$%1-*'/)+,(03!&2.  #"  4 After QH lead Declarer had 5 winners and needs 3 more. It looks like spades can produce the 3 extra tricks needed to make the contract. Declarer must take care to win the heart trick in the south hand to preserve the entry to dummy in case the ace of spades is held up by the opponents. Also declarer must cash QT of spades before playing a spade to dummy (honor from the short hand) to not block the spade suit.ch5,hd3entries while developing long suitR"(%2X F !$4 4  (*)',2-3+/&# %"!.$ 014 South opens 1NT, North responds 2C, Stayman. South bids 2H, showing 4H. North rebids 2NT, denying 4H, and shows 8-9 points. South, with maximum, goes to 3NT. After 6D lead, declarer has 7 winners, and needs 2 more tricks. With a 3-2 break, Clubs in dummy offer the best chance. To preserve entry to the dummy, South must duck a club trick early to the opponents. Win any return, and go back to clubs in dummy. With 3-2 split, 9 tricks are available, 2s, 1h, 2d, 4c.ch5,hd4creating an entryQ`(,dE "B B  3'*(2),+  1.-%  &$!/"0#4 South opens 1NT, North responds 2C, stayman. South rebids 2H, and with support and enough for game, NOrth rebids 4H. After the lead of the QC, south has 4 losers, 2h, 1d, 1c. There is the third spade in dummy to pitch a loser, but there is no immediate entry. You must cash the AK of spades and play a diamond to create an entry to the 3rd spade. Win the club return, and play a diamond to cash the 3rd spade and pitch the club loser. Now pull trumps for 10 tricks.ch6,hd1The hold up play)$J @@$@$$44%$!# &   , (+0)2 *3/1"-.'4 South opens 2NT(playing strong 2 range of 22-24), and North carries on to game in 3NT. After the KH lead, you only have 7 winners and needs to develop 2 more, obviously in spades. Chances are, the hearts will break 5-3, so we need to hold up on the ace until the 3rd round, hoping to exhaust East of hearts. We hope they have the ace of spades. We are fortunate, as east has the ace, and can do no harm. We then cash our 9 tricks.ch6,hd2holding up with the king2D @e#$14 4& "$#% 3,*)2-+'1. 0/(! 4 North opens 2S, strong. South replies 2NT, less than 7 points. North rebids 3D, South rebids 3NT, denying a fit for either suit. After the heart lead, South has 7 winners and needs to develop 2 more winners to make the contract. After East wins the ace and returns a heart, South must hold up the king to try and cut communication between the opponents hands. After winning the 3rd heart, South finesses the diamond, which loses, but East can do no harm, and 10 tricks are made.ch6,hd3defensive hold upJ&$RQ   1Q441(*2  3)+'&% !$".#/- 0,4 This hand is modified slightly from the original in the book, but I felt it necessary to give south a chance to go down if they didn't play the hand correctly. The Q8 of hearts and the Q7 of spades were swapped. South opens 3NT, which ends the auction. After spade lead, South has 5 tricks, and needs to develop 4 more. It looks like diamonds can do that. Win spade, and start KJD. East holds up. No chance to set up additional tricks, so switch to plan B. Change to clubs for the remaining 2 tricks before AS is gone.ch6,hd4creating an entry II D"DU! $BB03-'&!%$# ,( /12  +".*)4 North opens 2NT, and North responds 4H. After a JS lead, there are 4 possible losers, 1S,3C. Yes, the spade finesse offers a 50% chance of success getting the extra trick, if it doesn't work, allows East on lead to potentially lead a club through you. There is a 100% chance of taking at least 10 tricks with a spade discard on the 3rd diamond after pulling trumps. Don't take the finesse when there is a better opportunity.ch7,hd1Delaying drawing trump @EC T 1aa$& *(3)1+2'0-!, #    ./%"4 South opens 1D, North raises to 3D, and South rebids 6D. After the lead of the QH, South has 2 quick losers. 1H & 1D. South must get rid of the loser before pulling trumps. It appears that South can put the heart loser on the 3rd spade in dummy. South must play a low spade from dummy to the ace(honor from the short side), and play the queen, overtaking with the king, then play the jack and pitch the heart loser. Now pull trump and take 12 tricks.ch7,hd2Care in the trump suit6@`A @ 22S S&"!%#$/2(-*'+0.1),   3  4 South opens 1C, North responds 1D, South rebids 1S, and North with 18 support points, invites slam by bidding 5S. South, with the lower end of minimum declines the invitation. After the AH lead (with East playing a higher card to encourage continuation) and heart continuation, South faces a decision on the 3rd round of hearts. The lead is somewhat suspicious, it looks like a doubleton, so South needs to ruff high to prevent a possible overruff. After that, the rest is easy, pull trumps, cross to QD, play AKC, pitch heart.ch7,hd3maintaining control H( H` T#CC '3(*)+/20$%& ! , # " 1-.4 South opens 1S, North responds 2S, and South with maximum, rebids 4S, which ends the auction. After KD lead, with east playing 9 to encourage continuation, South ruffs the 2nd D. South plays only 2 rounds of trump, as they could get thier trumps tapped with repeated diamond leads and lose control of the hand, and proceeds to cash hearts and force out the AC. East plays another diamond, but South still maintains control of the hand. Had a 3rd trump been played, a diamond would force south to ruff with last trump with AC still out.ch7,hd4Establishing a side suit E ! WU0 cc  -,.(&%#!'")*/$ +3012 4 South opens 1S, and North with 20 support points goes right to 6S, which ends the auction. West plays the !D, to which East plays the 2, discouraging continuation of the suit. West switches to a club, Q,K,A. South has lost a diamond, and now has a club loser. With the expected 4-2 split in hearts, South should have a place to put the club loser. Play a trump to dummy, cash AKH, then play 3rd H and ruff, get back to dummy, play a 4th heart and ruff. Get back to dummy cash the 5th heart and pitch the club on it.ch8,hd1combining techniquesa D@  23CC%&$#  13*')2+(-,0 !. / "4 East opens 3H, south overcalls 3S, and North raises to 4S, which ends the auction. After 2 rounds of hearts and a switch to the QC, South has potentially 5 losers, 2H,1D,2C. South must hope the diamond finesse works, and the diamond suit can be developed to pitch a club or two. After winning the AC, play a diamond to the Q, cash the AD, and ruff a diamond. The diamond suit is now set up. Now pull trumps, ending in dummy, to deposit the clubs on the now good diamonds.ch8,hd28 ever, 9 neverL`E i2CC#"%&$.!02'*+1), (-3    / 4 West opens the bidding 3D, South doubles(showing 16+support points), and South jumps to 4S, which ends the auction. West starts with theAD, to which East plays the 9. As there is a singleton in dummy, this is suit preference, asking for a heart. West complies, and South ruffs the 3rd round of hearts high to prevent a possible overruff. South has lost 3 tricks and still has a diamond and possibly 2 club losers. South must ruff a diamond in dummy, pull trumps and finesse the club queen, hoping for a 3-2 break, with East havin the Qch8,hd3combining alternativesE@ 1 B` 0C C   #$'(3)1+*/,."&% 0!-24 East opens 3C, and despite opening count, south passes(direct seat should have 16+ points to bid) north reopens with a double, and south responds 4S, which ends the auction. After 8C lead and 2 rounds of clubs, a heart switch. South has potentially 4 losers, 2D,2C. There is the diamond finesse and the possibility of the 4th heart in dummy for a diamond discard. Pull trumps, run hearts (although the book doesn't consider it, the finesse of the 9 of hearts is a possibility for an additional trick as well) then finesse the diamond.ch8,hd4The best alternative! Pj (`3CC#&    '3() "$% /*.0+,!2-14 South opens 3S, and North raises to 4S, which ends the auction. On the JH lead, south has 4 potential losers, 1S,1H,2D. While the heart finesse offers a 50% chance of success, one needs to look at all options. The clubs offer a much better, although not quite 100%, chance to get rid of a loser. Also, if the heart finesse loses, the defenders may find the diamond switch and cash their 4 winners.