vg|1,Beating Contracts,P,1,10,,0,,0|
rs|,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,|
pn|,,,,,,,|
mp|,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,|
pw|,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,|pg||
qx|o1|st||md|3SAQT843HAQ4D87C63,SK76HJT8D943CKJ42,S95HK9652DJ2CT987,SJ2H73DAKQT65CAQ5|nt||sv|0|mb|-|mb|p|mb|1D|mb|1S|mb|1N|mb|p|mb|3N|mb|p|mb|p|mb|p|mb|-|mb|-|nt|North leads the @s9.  Clearly declarer has nine tricks when he gets in (the club finesse is right if he needs it).  Partner needs @HKxxxx or @HK10xx.  Switch to the @HA, @HQ and another heart.

^*bCount winners.  Think what partner needs for you to beat the contract.^*n|pg||
qx|o2|st||md|4SK63HT8D972CAK654,SJT4HAJDAQJTCQT87,S52H97654DK8653C2,SAQ987HKQ32D4CJ93|nt||sv|n|mb|-|mb|-|mb|1S|mb|p|mb|2D|mb|p|mb|2H|mb|p|mb|4S|mb|p|mb|p|mb|p|nt|You lead the @CA - @C7, @C2, @CJ.  If the @CJ is a true card there is little chance - partner can only have a King at most.  The best chance is that North has the singleton club.  Continue with the @CK.

^*bThink about possible layouts which give you a chance to beat the contract.^*n|pg||
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qx|o3|st||md|1S94HAK9843DJT4CKJ,SQJT3HJ62DAKQCQT2,S2HQT5D97632CA963,SAK8765H7D85C8754|nt||sv|e|mb|-|mb|-|mb|-|mb|1H|mb|d|mb|2H|mb|4S|mb|p|mb|p|mb|p|mb|-|mb|-|nt|You lead the @hA.  Partner can't have much.  If he has the @SA, you will only make the @HA, @SA, and @CK.  He can't really have @SAK, so the only chance for four tricks is if he has the @CA.  You must switch to the @cK.

^*bThink about what card(s) you need partner to hold.^*n|pg||
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qx|o4|st||md|2ST84HA63DA8CT8752,SK63HQJ982D92CK64,SJ975HK5DJ76543C3,SAQ2HT74DKQTCAQJ9|nt||sv|b|nt|Good defense beats a good contract, when S asks where the tricks are coming from.|pg||mb|p|mb|p|mb|1C|mb|p|mb|1H|mb|p|mb|2N|mb|p|mb|3D|mb|p|mb|3H|mb|p|mb|4H|mb|p|mb|p|mb|p|pg||pc|C3|nt|The d@c is a good lead for 2 reasons - S may have a tenace behind the bidder, and it will set up a possible ruff.|pg||pc|CA|pc|C2|nt|S has one chance to give N a crucial piece of information - the location of his entry to lead @c for a ruff.  Low card, low suit (obviously not @c).|pg||pc|C4|pg||
pc|H4|nt|Rise?  Why?  If N doesn't have a trump trick, we only get the 2 aces and a ruff.  The @s finesse is on, in case W needs it.  |pg||pc|H3|pc|HJ|pc|HK|pg||
pc|D3|nt|Suit preference signal again, asking for a @c to ruff.|pg||pc|DQ|pc|DA|pc|D2|pg||
pc|C7|pc|CK|pc|H5|pc|C9|pg||
pc|D4|pc|DK|pc|D8|pc|D9|pg||
pc|H7|pc|HA|pc|H2|pc|D5|pg||
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qx|o5|st||md|3SK85HKQT92D42C973,S42H74DAJT9653CQ4,SAT73H863DK8CJT62,SQJ96HAJ5DQ7CAK85|nt||sv|n|mb|-|mb|p|mb|1N|mb|p|mb|3N|mb|p|mb|p|mb|p|nt|You lead the @HK, asking for 'count or unblock'.  It holds, partner playing the @H3.  Declarer has @HAJ left, so you need partner to have a diamond stopper and a black Ace.  Which Ace?  The @CA probably isn't enough.  You can clear the hearts but declarer will hold up the @HA and finesse diamonds, and partner can't get you in fast enough - declarer will rise with the @SA on the return.  Play partner for the @SA, therefore, and switch to the @s8.

^*bThink about the least you need partner to hav|pg||
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qx|o6|
st||md|4SAJT2H95DJT843CQ7,S754HKJ3DK5CT8643,S863HQT742D96CA92,SKQ9HA86DAQ72CKJ5|sv|e|
mb|1dp1np3nppp|
nt|North leads the @h4.  Declarer wins the @HJ and leads a club to the @CJ and your @CQ.  Even if partner has @HKQ he can't have an entry.  The best chance is that he holds the @CA, in which case there's a sure way to defeat the contract - you must switch to the @SJ.

^*bAsk 'where are the defensive tricks coming from?'^*n|
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qx|o7|
st||md|1SKT52HK9DK75C9643,SA763HQJ75DQ2CAQ5,SQ84HAT642D843C87,SJ9H83DAJT96CKJT2|sv|b|
mb|p1np3nppp|
nt|North leads the @h4 and your @hK wins.  Partner might have running hearts but there's no rush to cash them - you can do so later, when you win the @DK, if necessary.  Switch to the @S2, in case partner has @HA and @SQ.

^*bTry to keep your options open.^*n|
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qx|o8|
st||md|2SKQ9764HATD85CA63,SAJH852DKQJ7CKT85,S3HJ963D9642CJ974,ST852HKQ74DAT3CQ2|sv|b|
mb|1dp1h1s1np3nppp|
nt|Partner leads the @s3.  Best is to ^*iduck^*n (this must be a singleton).  Now if declarer needs to lose to both of your Aces you can first play a low spade, knocking out the bare Ace, and then cash your spades.

^*bThink about the whole hand to see how to play a suit.^*n|
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qx|o9|
st||md|3SAQ5HKQT65D4CAQ75,SJT943DAKQJ86C32,S8HAJ873DT72CJ984,SK762H942D953CKT6|sv|e|
mb|pp1h2h4h4sdppp|
nt|You lead the @D4.  Declarer wins in dummy and runs the @SJ to your @SQ.  Best is to lead the @CQ, catering for @CK or @CJ with partner.

^*bWhat do you need partner to hold?  Try to cater for all possibilities.^*n|
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qx|o10|
st||md|4S93HQT76DK963CA52,SAKQT854HJ92DJCT8,S2H543DA842CKQJ74,SJ76HAK8DQT75C963|sv|b|
mb|pp4sppp|
nt|Partner leads the @CK and declarer ruffs the third round, draws two rounds of trumps ending in dummy and leads a diamond.  If he has a void in diamonds - or the @DA - you can count him for ten tricks.  The only critical case is when he has the singleton @DJ.  You must go up with the @DK, otherwise he can take a ruffing finesse later.

^*bConcentrate on layouts where your play makes a difference.^*n|
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