The course
Dropping
Step 4 of 4
Nine cards, and the answer changes
Nine cards between the hands now, and only the queen missing. The old rhyme says eight ever, nine never: with eight cards, finesse for the queen; with nine, play for her to drop.
It is a counting argument, not a superstition. Four cards out means the queen is one of four; three cards out means she is one of three, and doubleton often enough that catching her costs nothing.
Take 5 tricks.
Dummy
Lead from either hand.
Play a card from either hand. Play the line you would play — nothing here is scored, and you can start the suit again whenever you like.