LEARNING CENTER

2. You are surely worth it; why guess at anything else?

2. This is 100% forcing. No need to start guessing/jumping. Let's find out more.

4. This surely wasn't covered in the declarer play lesson (it is in my slam bidding lessons). This is a control-bid, showing either the A, K, a singleton or a void in clubs. It shows slam interest and invites partner to control-bid in return.

Without a diamond control of our own, we have no business bidding slam (or using Blackwood). We could be off the first 2 diamond tricks. If partner control-bids diamonds, we are in business.

Please don't tell me you thought this was Gerber. Sigh.

4NT. Now that we won't lose the first two diamond tricks, we can use Blackwood and maybe reach 7.

Other.

While the Q is still a dummy entry, you should try the AK in case the queen falls (it doesn't).

You have to lose a diamond trick no matter what. So, what do you do with your 7?

Your realistic hope is to throw it on a diamond (namely the 10).

You will at some point finesse against West -- and hope he holds the J.

But, there is a danger in drawing trump first. Remember that you were told they are 3-1.

Drawing them would use up dummy's Q prematurely. Then, when you lead the Q (or to the Q), good opponents will hold up. Even if you are successful in diamonds, you will never get to dummy's 3rd-round winner.

So, you need to keep the Q in dummy. You can draw 2 rounds of trump, but keep dummy's Q and then play diamonds. As you can see from the full deal, West has the J (the only way you can finesse in the suit) and you make your contract.

Please click here to play Practice deal #3.