West	North	East	South	1. N deals	A K Q		TT=7	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	2 NT!	Pass	3 NT	None vul	A K 2		1. E	2	3	8	Q
Pass	Pass	Pass			K 9 4		2. N	K!	3	6	A
					K 8 6 4		3. W	9	K	6	5
9 9	22 22	4 5	5 5	9 8 4		J 10 6 2	4. N	9!	5!	7	2
				Q 10 5		J 7 6 4	5. N	4	Q	10	8
				A 8 2		Q 5 3	6. E	J	7	4	A
				Q J 9 7		10 5		Cash 5 more winners
Bidding	Opening 2 NT & response				7 5 3
Play	Preserve entry				9 8 3
	Shun finesse				J 10 7 6
Defense	Return partner’s suit				A 3 2
	Holdup play			3 NT North		Made 3 +400

West	North	East	South	2. E deals	7 4		TT=9	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
		2 NT	Pass	N-S vul	K 10 9 6		1. N	Q	K	3	6
3 !	Pass	4	Pass		Q J 10 7		2. E	A!	2	5	6
Pass	Pass				J 6 4		3. E	J	3	7	K
				K J 10 9 8		Q 3 2	4. N	10	A	5	8
4 5	7 8	21 22	8 8	8 7 5		A J	5. E	2	5	8	4
				8 6		A K 4 2	6. W	8!	9	Q	4
				9 7 3		A K 8 2	7. E	3	A	9	7
					A 6 5			Lose 1 more trick
					Q 4 3 2
Bidding	Opening 2 NT & response				9 5 3
Play	Ruff in short hand				Q 10 5
	Force out high trump			4 West		Made 4 +420

West	North	East	South	3. S deals	9 5 3		TT=8	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
			2 !	E-W vul	9 3 2		1. W	J	3	8!	K
Pass	2	Pass	2		5 3		2. S	K!	6	3	2
Pass	3	Pass	4		K 9 7 4 3		3. S	A!	7	5	8
AP				J 10 6 4		Q 8 7	4. S	4!	9	2	10
				A 4		7 6 5	5. N	5	7	A	4
9 10	3 4	7 7	21 23	Q 9 7 6		10 8 2	6. S	J	Q	9!	8
				Q 6 2		A J 10 8	7. N	3	5	K	A
Bidding	Opening 2 & response				A K 2			Lose 2 more tricks
Play	Ruff in short hand				K Q J 10 8
	Avert overruff				A K J 4
Defense	Choose lead at suit				5
	Attitude signal			4 South		Made 4 +420

West	North	East	South	4. W deals	10 9 8		TT=8	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
Pass	Pass	2	Pass	Both vul	A 8 5 2		1. S	J	3!	2	Q
2	Pass	2 NT!	Pass		5 2		2. E	J	6	3	2!
6 NT	AP				10 8 7 2		3. E	10	7	Q!	A
				4 3 2		A K J 5	4. N	10	K!	6	2
10 11	4 5	23 23	3 4	K Q 9 4 3		J 10	5. E	4	7	A	5
				A 3		K Q 6 4	6. W	K	5	5	4
				J 9 3		A K Q	7. W	9	8	6	5
Bidding	Opening 2 & response				Q 7 6		8. W	4	8	J	8
	Slam decision				7 6			Claim the rest
Play	Preserve entry				J 10 9 8 7
	Overtaking play				6 5 4
Defense	Holdup play			6 NT East		Made 6 +1440

Practice 1H05 Main

Weak Opening Bids

Top by Richard Pavlicek

West	North	East	South	1. N deals	A Q 9 7 6 5 4		TT=7	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	3 !	Pass	Pass	None vul	2		1. E	10	A!	6	2
Pass					J 6		2. S	Q!	K	4	3
					8 7 4		3. N	6	4	A	2
13 13	7 9	9 9	11 13	K 10 8		J 3	4. S	J	7	J	5
				K 7 6		10 9 8 5 3	5. S	2	8	Q!	3
				Q 10 7 2		K 8 4	6. N	A	J	3	10
				K Q 10		A J 2		Concede 4 tricks
					2
					A Q J 4
Bidding	Choose weak opening				A 9 5 3
	Response to preempt				9 6 5 3
Play	Ruffing finesse			3 North		Made 3 +140

West	North	East	South	2. E deals	A J 3		TT=8	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
		4 !	Pass	N-S vul	10 3 2		1. S	3	6!	10!	J
Pass	Pass				K 9 8		2. E	K	A	4	2
					A 10 8 5		3. S	2	K	A	4
11 15	12 13	7 10	10 11	Q 10 8 7 6 5 4		—	4. N	5	5	7	5
				—		K Q J 9 8 7 6 5	5. E	Q	4	6	3
				A Q 10 5		4 3 2	6. E	J	9	7	10
Bidding	Choose weak opening			K 6		J 4	7. E	2	6	10!	K
	Response to preempt				K 9 2			Claim the rest
Play	Play to trick one				A 4
	Finessing technique				J 7 6
Defense	Choose lead at suit				Q 9 7 3 2
	Third-hand play			4 East		Made 4 +420

West	North	East	South	3. S deals	A 8 2		TT=8	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
			2 !	E-W vul	A Q 10 7 3		1. W	2	A!	5	4
Pass	4	Pass	Pass		5 4 3		2. N	2	3	K	4
Pass					A Q		3. S	5	7	A	4
				J 7 4		3	4. N	8	6	Q	J
9 11	16 18	7 9	8 9	2		K 9 6 5	5. S	J!	J	3	K
				K J 10 9 6		A 8 2	6. E	A	7	6	3
				K J 9 3		10 8 7 6 4	7. E	2	Q	K	4
Bidding	Choose weak opening				K Q 10 9 6 5		8. W	10	5	8	6
	Resp to weak two-bid				J 8 4			Win the rest
Play	Avoid enemy ruff				Q 7
	Shun finesse				5 2
Defense	Try for a ruff			4 South		Made 4 +420

West	North	East	South	4. W deals	Q 5 2		TT=10	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
3 !	Pass	5	Pass	Both vul	A K J 3		1. N	K	2	5	9
Pass	Pass				9 2		2. N	A	6	4	3
					J 10 8 7		3. W	Q	2	6	5
9 11	11 12	14 15	6 7	6 4 3		A K 8	4. W	4	9	K	7
				9		8 7 6 2	5. E	4!	2!	Q	7
				A Q J 10 8 4 3		K 6		Lose 1 more trick
				Q 5		A 9 6 4
Bidding	Choose weak opening				J 10 9 7
	Response to preempt				Q 10 5 4
Play	Lead toward honor				7 5
Defense	Second-hand play				K 3 2
	Make declarer guess			5 West		Made 5 +600

Practice 1H09 Main

Strong Opening Bids

Top by Richard Pavlicek

West	North	East	South	1. N deals	K 7 6		TT=10	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	2 NT	Pass	6 NT!	None vul	A K 10 9 3		1. E	10	J	A	6
Pass	Pass	Pass			K Q J		2. W	3	7	8	Q
					K Q		3. S	2	4	K	3
5 6	21 21	2 3	12 12	A 5 4 3 2		10 9 8	4. N	Q	10	6	5
				J		Q 8 4 2	5. N	J	8!	7	8
				9 8 5 4		10 3	6. N	K	3	4	2
Bidding	Opening 2 NT & response			8 5 2		9 7 6 3	7. N	Q	6	A!	5
	Slam decision				Q J			Cash 6 more winners
Play	Untangle tricks				7 6 5
	Overtaking play				A 7 6 2
Defense	Choose lead vs slam				A J 10 4
	Discard signal			6 NT North		Made 6 +990

West	North	East	South	2. E deals	9 8 4		TT=8	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
		2	Pass	N-S vul	5		1. N	10	A!	7!	5
2 !	Pass	2 NT	Pass		10 9 8 3		2. E	K!	2	3	4
3	Pass	4	AP		Q J 8 7 4		3. E	A	9	5	7
				6 5 3		K J 7 2	4. E	2	J	8	3
4 6	3 5	23 24	10 11	K J 10 9 8		A Q 2	5. W	6	8	A!	10
				5		A Q 4 2	6. E	4	6	9	8
				10 6 5 3		A K	7. W	10	J	Q	Q
Bidding	Opening 2 & response				A Q 10			Win 3 more tricks
Play	Shun finesse				7 6 4 3
	Avert overruff				K J 7 6
Defense	Choose lead at suit				9 2
	Attitude signal			4 West		Made 4 +420

West	North	East	South	3. S deals	Q 10 5		TT=9	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
			2	E-W vul	8 7 6 4 2		1. W	J	2	K	8
Pass	2 !	Pass	2		7		2. E	A	Q	10	4
Pass	3	Pass	4		6 5 4 2		3. E	9	K!	5	5
AP				9 8 2		4 3	4. S	6	2	Q	3
				K J 9 5		Q 10	5. N	7	3	A	6
6 6	2 4	9 10	23 24	J 8 6 5		10 9 4 3	6. S	2!	8	5	4
				J 10		A K 9 7 3	7. N	10	4	7	8
					A K J 7 6		8. N	6	3	J	5
Bidding	Opening 2 & response				A 3		9. S	A	9	2	7
Play	Avert overruff				A K Q 2			Cash 3 more winners
	Ruff in short hand				Q 8
Defense	Try for an overruff			4 South		Made 4 +420

West	North	East	South	4. W deals	3		TT=9	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
3 NT!	Pass	4	Pass	Both vul	8 6 4		1. S	J	A	4	2
Pass	Pass				J 10 6 3 2		2. W	A	3	4	9
					K 10 8 4		3. W	K!	2	4	A
25 26	4 6	1 4	10 10	A 2		J 10 8 7 6 5 4	4. S	2!	A!	8	3
				A K Q		5 3 2	5. W	Q!	3	7	5
				K Q 8 7		4	6. W	2	6	5	Q
				A Q J 9		7 3		Concede high trump
Bidding	Opening 3 NT & response				K Q 9
	Choose best game				J 10 9 7
Play	Obtain early discard				A 9 5
	Shun finesse				6 5 2
Defense	Shift to another suit			4 East		Made 4 +620

Practice 1H13 Main

Opening Balanced Hands

Top by Richard Pavlicek

West	North	East	South	1. N deals	J 10 3		TT=8	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	Pass	1 NT	Pass	None vul	K 10 6 5		1. S	K	3!	2	5
2 NT	Pass	3 NT	Pass		6 4 2		2. S	J	10	4	7
Pass	Pass				6 5 4		3. S	9	A	6	8
				8 5 2		A K 7 4	4. W	3	4	A	2
8 9	4 4	18 19	10 10	8 3		A J 7 2	5. E	Q	7	K!	5
				A 10 3		8 7 5	6. W	J	6	2	10
				K J 9 8 3		A Q	7. W	9	3!	4	4!
					Q 9 6		8. W	8	5	7	9
Bidding	Response to 1 NT				Q 9 4			Cash 3 more winners
Play	Holdup play				K Q J 9
	Overtaking play				10 7 2
Defense	Choose discard			3 NT East		Made 3 +400

West	North	East	South	2. E deals	J 10 8 6 5 4		TT=9	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
		Pass	3 NT	N-S vul	3		1. E	J	Q	A	3
Pass	4	Pass	Pass		8 6 5		2. W	6	2	4	K
Pass					5 3 2		3. S	A	2	4	9
				2		K Q 9	4. S	A!	2	5	3
8 10	1 3	6 7	25 26	A 8 7 6 5		J 10 9 4	5. S	K	4	6	9
				10 7 4 2		9 3	6. S	Q	7	8	Q
				K J 7		9 8 6 4	7. E	4!	A!	7	3
					A 7 3		8. S	J	10	5	K
Bidding	Opening 3 NT & response				K Q 2			Win the rest
Play	Trump management				A K Q J
	Obtain early discard				A Q 10
Defense	Shift to correct suit			4 North		Made 4 +620

West	North	East	South	3. S deals	9 8 5 4		TT=7	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
			1	E-W vul	J 10 6 4		1. W	Q	4	2	A
Pass	1	Pass	2 NT		A 3		2. S	3!	7	J	2
Pass	3 NT	AP			Q 9 8		3. N	4	8	Q	K
				Q J 10 7		6 2	4. W	10	3!	4	K
11 11	7 8	3 5	19 19	A K 9 7		8 2	5. S	5	A	6	3
				10 9 6		8 7 5 4	6. W	6	A	5	2
Bidding	Opening one-bid			J 2		K 10 5 4 3	7. N	10	4	3	9
	Resp to 1 of a suit				A K 3			Win 4 more tricks
Play	Play for best chance				Q 5 3
	Lead toward honor				K Q J 2
Defense	Attitude signal				A 7 6
	Attack dummy’s entry			3 NT South		Made 3 +400

West	North	East	South	4. W deals	8 5		TT=8	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
2 NT	Pass	3	Pass	Both vul	10 7 5		1. N	Q	3	2	A
3	Pass	4	Pass		A 8 7		2. W	A!	5	4	3
Pass	Pass				Q J 10 9 6		3. W	K	8	6	10
				A K 7 2		J 9 6 4	4. W	A!	5	4	3
21 22	7 8	6 7	6 7	A 2		K Q 6 4	5. W	2	7	K	8
				K 5 4		9 3 2	6. E	Q	9	4	10
				A K 8 4		5 3	7. E	5!	7	K	6
					Q 10 3		8. W	4	9	9	Q
Bidding	Opening 2 NT & response				J 9 8 3		9. S	Q	K	A	2
	Stayman convention				Q J 10 6		10. N	8	9	10	5
Play	Obtain early discard				7 2		11. S	J	2	7	3
	Ruffing with 4-4 fit			4 West		Made 4 +620		Crossruff the rest

Practice 1H01-1H13 Main

Top 16 Practice Deals

© 1994 Richard Pavlicek