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The tables presented below indicate the best line of play in contract bridge for a single suit in isolation in which declarer and dummy lack the but possess the. The required minimum number of tricks is indicated as well as the probability of success (POS). The line of play that is optimal in matchpoint scoring (the line of play that beats other lines of play on as many lay-outs as possible) is marked with (MP). Best defense is assumed (including falsecarding where necessary). In all cases, it is assumed declarer and dummy have enough entries via the other suits. In the lay-out for declarer and dummy, irrelevant small cards are denoted by 'x'. In the descriptions, 'RHO' stands for 'right hand opponent' (the opponent sitting behind dummy), and 'LHO' stands for 'left hand opponent' (the opponent sitting behind declarer).

The lines of play are based on the absence of any information about the lay of the opponent’s cards. In practice some information may be inferred from the bidding or prior play. In addition, which line of play is chosen will depend upon declarer’s objectives given the method of scoring and his willingness to accept a greater risk of failure for a greater reward.