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3. Anything could work (well, nobody is leading a diamond, I hope). Rather than try to zig and zag with guesswork, I like to stick with good old "4th from your longest and strongest."

J97. Partner can't have the K (he would have had to play 3rd hand high).

No other holding makes sense. If declarer could have won with the 9 or jack, why would he waste the ace?

Notice how partner's play of "cheapest of equals" allows you to know the entire layout. It would have been a mistake for him to play the 9 or J when the 7 tells you everything.

Look carefully at all the cards on this trick to make sure you understand that J97 is the only possible answer.

2. From trick 1, you know the spade layout. Playing another spade now will knock out declarer's other spade stopper. When you get in with your A, you will be able to set the contract. The full deal is shown as below. Interpreting trick one was the key to the defense.

Click here to play Lesson Deal #2.