Bridge players sometimes seem like magicians. You watch four experts sit down and play, and they'll think for a while and then after three tricks all four players close up their hands and write down a score wordlessly. How do they know? They can't see through the cards, but expert players do think about the meanings of all the cards played and the auction very deeply so that they have a rough picture of the deal. After a few cards are played, that rough picture crystallizes and the players know what will happen. It's magic of a different variety. See if you have what it takes to make a rough picture of the deal.
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You are East.
|
West |
North |
YOU East |
South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1NT | |||
| Pass | 2 |
Pass | 2 |
| Pass | 3NT | All Pass |
Partner leads the 
K
|
DUMMY
|
||
 |
YOU
|
|
| |
How many spades does partner have?
1-2
2-3
3-4
4-5
5-6
6-7
You are East.
|
West |
North |
YOU East |
South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1NT | |||
| Pass | 2 |
Pass | 2 |
| Pass | 3NT | All Pass |
Partner leads the K
|
DUMMY
|
||
| |
YOU
|
|
| |
How many hearts does partner have?
1-2
2-3
3-4
4-5
5-6
You are East.
|
West |
North |
YOU East |
South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1NT | |||
| Pass | 2 |
Pass | 2 |
| Pass | 3NT | All Pass |
Partner leads the K
|
DUMMY
|
||
| |
YOU
|
|
| |
How many points does partner have?
2-4
3-5
4-6
5-7
6-8
7-9
8-10
You are East.
|
West |
North |
YOU East |
South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1NT | |||
| Pass | 2 |
Pass | 2 |
| Pass | 3NT | All Pass |
Partner leads the K
|
DUMMY
|
||
| |
YOU
|
|
| |
Who has the K?
Partner
Declarer
Don't know
You are East.
|
West |
North |
YOU East |
South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1NT | |||
| Pass | 2 |
Pass | 2 |
| Pass | 3NT | All Pass |
Partner leads the 
K
|
DUMMY
|
||
 |
YOU
|
|
| |
Given what we know so far, which of these is a possible hand for partner?
KQJ64 J763 107 65
KQ1064 7643 Q72 6
KQJ64 7643 Q72 6
Options 1 and 2
Options 2 and 3
All three are possible
You are East.
|
West |
North |
YOU East |
South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1NT | |||
| Pass | 2 |
Pass | 2 |
| Pass | 3NT | All Pass |
Partner leads the K. You play the 3 (standard attitude, discouraging) and declarer plays the 5. Partner now plays the 7. Declarer plays the 8 from dummy. How can you beat the contract?
|
DUMMY
|
||
| |
YOU
|
|
| |
Win and play a diamond hoping partner has diamond tricks.
Win and play a spade and hope partner has a late entry in diamonds.
Win the ace and play another heart and hope partner has long hearts.
Duck it and hope to make declarer take a heart guess later.
Duck it and hope to eventually get long club tricks.
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