Card Combination Answers

1) Play the King (play the winning card in the hand opposite the ‘tenace’ holding).

2) Play small to the ª10. Whether this wins or loses, go back to and play small to the ªJ. You have a 75% chance of winning one of the two finesses.

3) Play small to the ª10. Whether this wins or loses (if the ª10 forces the ªK, no problem) go back to hand and play small to the ªQ.

4) Play the ªK and then lead small to the ªJ. (play the winning card opposite the ‘tenace’ hand)

5) Play the ªK and small towards to the ªA.

6) Play small towards the ªQ. If East plays the ªJ, return to hand to finesse West out of their ªK.

7) Play small towards the ª9. The ª10 is the key card. You hope that West hold this card. If the ª9 loses to the ªK or ªQ, go back hand and play small to the ªJ.

8) Leads towards the ªQJ7 twice. You hope that the ªA and ªK are split between the opponents.

9) Lead small toward to the ªK. If this wins, return to hand and play small to the ªQ. If the first trick (ªK) loses to the ªA, return to hand and play small to the ª10, hoping West has the ªJ.

10) Play the ªK and watch what happens. If West started with all Q1083, you can finesse him, picking the suit up for no losers.

11) Lead towards the ªKQ74. If the ªQ wins, return to hand and lead small to the ªK.

12) Lead small to the ªQ, hoping West holds the ªK.

13) Lead small to the ªJ, hoping West has the ªQ.

14) Lead small towards the ªQJ7, playing an honor if West plays small. You will return to hand to repeat the play, (hoping for split honors).

15) Lead ªA and then small towards the ªQJ64. Superior to leading the ªQ.

16) Lead the ªK first. Protect against West having all outstanding spades.

17) Play small to the ªQ. The finesse is twice as likely to gain as playing the ªA.

18) Lead the ªJ for a finesse, not small to ªQ. West might have the ªK104.

19) Lead small towards the ªJ. Insurance against West holding a singleton ªK.

20) Again you must lead the ªJ, protecting against West holding all three outstanding spades.

21) Take the double finesse in spades. Comes under restricted play rule.

22) Lead small to the ª10, hoping West has the ªJx, or Jxx.

23) Cash the ªA first and the return to hand to lead small towards the ªJ.

24) Lead the ªQ for a finesse. If this loses return to dummy and lead the ª10 for a finesse.

25) With no clues, this is a guess. Finesse either opponent you want. Play ªK and finesse the ªJ, or play the ªA and finesse the ª10. Your choice.

26) This is a common trump holding and you will put yourself in good stead to understand how to play this one. You need the suit to break 3-2 and for the opponent with only 2 to hold the ªA. If you think East has it, play a small card from dummy toward to the ªK and then small from both hands hoping for the fall of the ªA from East. If you think West has the ªA, then play a small spade to the queen, and then small from both hands hoping to see the ªA fall from the West.

27) Play the ªK followed by the ªQ. Your hope is that one of the opponents holds ªJx or ªJ (singleton) in the suit. If not you will always lose two tricks.

28) Play the ªA followed by a small spade. Your hope is that one of the opponents holds doubleton ªKx or ªJx. You will usually lose two tricks in the suit, (unless someone holds ªKJ doubleton) but want to avoid losing three.

29) Play the ªA followed by a low spade. You want to find one of the opponents holding a doubleton honor. Either ªQx or ªKx. You now lose only two tricks in the suit.

30) Play the suit from the top. ªAKQ hoping theªJ comes tumbling down.