Practice 3E01 Main

Opener’s Third Bid

by Richard Pavlicek

West

Pass
Pass
All Pass NORTH
1
1 NT
2 ! East
Pass
Pass
Pass South
1
2
4 Board 1 9 8 2
K 4 2
A 10 7 4
A Q 2 Trick
1 W
2 S
3 S
4 S
5 N
6 S
7 N
8 S
9 N
10 S
11 S Lead
3
A
K
9!
4
4
7
5
10!
K
7 2nd
2
10
Q
3
K
3
5
8
J
10
7 3rd
9!
2
8
A
3
Q
4
A
5
2
4 4th
Q
7
6
2
6
6
8
9
Q
J
J W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 0
7 0
8 0
9 0
10 0
10 1
Q 10
J 8 7 3
Q 8 6 3
10 8 3 Table J 7 6
A 10 9
K J 5 2
J 9 6
Bidding

Play

Defense Rebid by responder
Opener’s third bid
Trump management
Dummy reversal
Third-hand play

A K 5 4 3
Q 6 5
9
K 7 5 4
4 South 8 top tricks Lose 1 more trick made 5 +450

West

1
2 NT
4 North

Pass
Pass
All Pass EAST
1
2
3 ! South
Pass
Pass
Pass Board 2 J 10 6 5 4
Q 6
7 6 3
K 8 6 Trick
1 S
2 W
3 W
4 W
5 S
6 E
7 E
8 W
9 E Lead
4
A!
Q
2
7
Q
9!
5
3 2nd
A!
4
5
3
2
4
5
6
10 3rd
6
K
10
K
K
8
8
A!
2 4th
5
3
9
A
2
6
7
7
Q W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
3 1
4 1
5 1
6 1
7 1
7 2
A Q 8 7 2
8 5
8 2
A J 3 2 Table K
A J 9 4 3 2
K Q J 9
10 5
Bidding

Play
Rebid by opener
Opener’s third bid
Obtain early discard
Ruff in short hand

9 3
K 10 7
A 10 5 4
Q 9 7 4
4 East 8 top tricks Concede high trump made 4 -420

West

1
2
2 NT! North

Pass
Pass
All Pass East

1
2 SOUTH
Pass
Pass
Pass Board 3 K 10 8 2
9 6
K Q 8 7 5
J 9 Trick
1 N
2 W
3 S
4 S
5 W
6 S
7 E
8 W
9 N
10 N
11 E
12 E Lead
9
3!
J
10
5
4
4
4
K
8
A
5 2nd
Q!
6
2!
A!
2
3
2
Q
7
A
6
7 3rd
K
7
5
7
2
8
K
6
9
Q
3
8! 4th
A
10
9
4
J
8
9
5
6
3
J
10 W L
1 0
1 1
1 2
2 2
2 3
3 3
4 3
4 4
4 5
5 5
6 5
7 5
3
A 5 3
A 6 4 3 2
K Q 8 3 Table A J 7 6 4
Q 8 7 2
9
A 5 4
Bidding

Play

Defense Rebid by responder
Opener’s third bid
Watch spot cards
Restricted choice
Choose lead at notrump

Q 9 5
K J 10 4
J 10
10 7 6 2
2 NT West 6 top tricks Win the last trick made 2 -120

WEST
Pass
Pass
Pass
All Pass North
1
2
2 NT! East
Pass
Pass
Pass South
1
2
3 NT Board 4 Q
A 9 6 5 2
A 10 8
A K 5 3 Trick
1 E
2 N
3 W
4 S
5 W Lead
J
Q
8
10
6 2nd
4!
2
3
J
A 3rd
2
K!
7
2
9 4th
K
A
Q
5
4 W L
1 0
1 1
2 1
2 2
3 2
A J 6 4
Q 7
Q J 9 7
8 6 2 Table 7 5 2
K J 8 3
6 5
J 10 9 7
Bidding

Play

Defense Simple preference bid
Opener’s third bid
Communication/entries
Overtaking play
Choose lead at notrump

K 10 9 8 3
10 4
K 4 3 2
Q 4
3 NT North 6 top tricks Win 6 more tricks made 3 +600

Practice 3E05 Main

Top Opener’s Third Bid

Opener’s Third Bid II

West

Pass
Pass
All Pass NORTH
1
1 NT
3 ! East
Pass
Pass
Pass South
1
3
4 Board 1 J 4 2
A 2
K Q 8 2
K 10 4 3 Trick
1 W
2 N
3 S
4 N
5 N
6 S
7 E
8 E Lead
Q
2
3
K!
2
10
A
K 2nd
A
6
8
6
6
J
10
8 3rd
7
K
J
4
A
Q
4
5 4th
3
5
7!
3
7
9
4
2 W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
5 1
5 2
5 3
8 5
Q J 10 5 4
J 7 3
J 7 5 Table A 9 7 6
K 9 7 6
6
Q 9 8 6
Bidding

Play
Defense
Rebid by responder
Opener’s third bid
Keep trump control
When to win trump ace
Set trap for declarer

K Q 10 3
8 3
A 10 9 5 4
A 2
4 South 11 top tricks Win the rest made 4 +420

West

1
2 North

Pass
Pass EAST
1
1
2 NT! South
Pass
Pass
All Pass Board 2 Q J 10 9
Q J 10 9
K J 9 7
8 Trick
1 S
2 W
3 E
4 N
5 W
6 E
7 E
8 N
9 S
10 N Lead
J
3
4!
Q
2
A
5
9
3
J 2nd
A
7
8
4
Q
10
7
4
6
7 3rd
8
Q
2
7
Q
2
3
K
10
8 4th
3
2
9
A!
6
J
K
5
5
8 W L
1 0
2 0
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 1
5 2
5 3
5 4
5 5
6 3 2
A 8 6 5 2
3
A K 5 2 Table A 7 5 4
4
A Q 6 5 4
Q 4 3
Bidding

Play
Rebid by responder
Opener’s third bid
Communication/entries
Shun holdup play

K 8
K 7 3
10 8 2
J 10 9 7 6
2 NT East 6 top tricks Win the rest made 2 -120

West

Pass
Pass
Pass North

1
2
4 East

Pass
Pass
All Pass SOUTH
1
1
3 ! Board 3 3
A Q 8 7 6 5
7
9 7 6 5 3 Trick
1 E
2 S
3 W
4 N
5 S
6 N
7 S
8 S
9 S
10 N
11 W Lead
9
2
K!
3!
4
5
K
K
8
9!
10 2nd
A
K
A
2
6
J
9
6
J
Q
7 3rd
5
3
2
A
5
9
6
7
6
3
10 4th
7
4
4
5
7
8
10
2
Q
A
4 W L
1 0
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 1
6 1
7 1
8 1
8 2
8 3
J 9 6 5
K
Q 10 6 5
A K 10 8 Table Q 10 7 2
J 10 3 2
9 2
Q J 4
Bidding

Play

Defense Rebid by opener
Opener’s third bid
Trump management
Trump endplay
Shift to trumps

A K 8 4
9 4
A K J 8 4 3
2
4 North 8 top tricks East is endplayed made 4 +420

WEST
1
2
2 NT! North
Pass
Pass
Pass East
1
2
3 NT South
Pass
Pass
All Pass Board 4 10 9 8
K 10 9 2
J 9 7
J 8 7 Trick
1 N
2 E
3 W
4 S
5 S
6 E
7 W
8 E
9 E Lead
10
2!
5
Q?
J
3!
3
8
6 2nd
K
10
J
4
5
6
9
Q
? 3rd
7
K
4!
8
9
A
Q
8 4th
2
7
A
3!
A
2
5
7 W L
1 0
2 0
2 1
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
2
A J 8 5 4
K 5 3
A K Q 2 Table A K 4 3
7 3
Q 8 6 4 2
4 3
Bidding

Play
Simple preference bid
Opener’s third bid
Play for best chance
Automatic squeeze

Q J 7 6 5
Q 6
A 10
10 9 6 5
3 NT West 6 top tricks South is squeezed made 5 -660

Practice 3E09 Main

Top Opener’s Third Bid

Opener’s Third Bid III

West

Pass
Pass
All Pass NORTH
1
2
3 ! East
Pass
Pass
Pass South
1
2 NT
4 Board 1 K 7
A Q 6 5 4 3
A J 7 6
2 Trick
1 E
2 S
3 N
4 N
5 W
6 N Lead
4
4!
A!
6
J
7 2nd
A
10
3
2
A!
9 3rd
5
J
5
Q
8
3 4th
2
2
8
K
2
9 W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
3 1
4 1
4 2
Q 10 5
J 10
K 10 9 8
K 8 7 5 Table J 6 3 2
K 9 8
3 2
Q 10 6 4
Bidding

Play

Defense Rebid by opener
Opener’s third bid
Establish side suit
Ruff in short hand
Shift to trumps

A 9 8 4
7 2
Q 5 4
A J 9 3
4 North 8 top tricks Lose 1 more trick made 4 +420

West

1
2 ¹
4 North

Pass
Pass
All Pass EAST
1
1 NT
3 ! South
Pass
Pass
Pass Board 2 Q 10 8 4
J 3
K 10 9 5
9 4 3 Trick
1 N
2 S
3 E
4 W
5 E
6 E
7 S
8 W Lead
4
9
10
4
A
K
5
A 2nd
2
J
4
5
6
A
5
J 3rd
K
Q
K
Q!
7
5
8
2 4th
3
A
3
2
9
3
6
6 W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
4 2
5 2
6 2
J 7 3
A K 9 7 5
4
Q J 6 5 Table A 6 2
10 8 2
A Q J 7 3
K 7
Note 1
Bidding
Play
new minor forcing
Opener’s third bid
Desperation finesse
Ruff in short hand

K 9 5
Q 6 4
8 6 2
A 10 8 2
4 West 6 top tricks Lose 1 more trick made 4 -420

West

Pass
Pass
All Pass North

1
2 East

Pass
Pass SOUTH
1
2
2 NT! Board 3 Q J 8 7 5
A 4 3 2
A 7
9 2 Trick
1 W
2 E
3 W
4 N
5 N
6 S
7 S
8 S
9 S Lead
10
5
Q
A!
7
Q
J
6
2! 2nd
2
8
A
3
10
9
6
6
K 3rd
K
9
2
4
K
5
7
4
8 4th
6
3
J
5
8
3
4
9
10 W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
6 3
A K 6
Q 10 9 7
9 8 5
K 7 6 Table 10 9 4 3
K 5
10 3 2
J 10 5 3
Bidding

Play

Defense Opener’s third bid
Responder’s third bid
Shun finesse
Throw-in play
Choose lead at notrump

2
J 8 6
K Q J 6 4
A Q 8 4
2 NT South 6 top tricks W endplayed (lose 2) made 2 +120

WEST
1
2
3 ! North
Pass
Pass
Pass East
1
2
4 South
Pass
Pass
All Pass Board 4 K 10 9
Q 4
9 6 5 4 2
K J 9 Trick
1 S
2 E
3 W
4 E
5 W
6 E
7 W
8 E
9 W Lead
3
2!
5!
8
6
Q
9
3
J 2nd
2
3
Q
3
4
K
6
4
10 3rd
9
A
5
A
6
J
7
A
10! 4th
Q
4
7
2
8
5
10
9
K W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 0
7 0
8 0
8 1
J 2
A J 9 6 5
A
A 10 7 5 2 Table A Q 8 7 6 5
2
Q 10 8
8 6 3
Bidding
Play
Defense Opener’s third bid
Elopement play
Choose lead at suit

4 3
K 10 8 7 3
K J 7 3
Q 4
4 East 8 top tricks Win 2 more tricks made 4 -620

Practice 3E13 Main

Top Opener’s Third Bid

Opener’s Third Bid IV

West

1
2
4 NORTH
Pass
Pass
Pass
All Pass East
1
1
3 ! South
Pass
Pass
Pass Board 1 J 5
9 2
Q 10 8 4
K 8 6 5 4 Trick
1 N
2 E
3 N
4 W
5 E
6 W
7 W
8 E
9 W
10 W
11 E Lead
2!
3
9
7!
3
K
4
9
A
2
J! 2nd
A
5
3
4
10
5
J
Q
4
8
10 3rd
8
9
10
A
5
2
A
6
6
J
7 4th
4
10
K
2
5
8
7
6
7
K
8 W L
1 0
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 1
6 1
7 1
8 1
9 1
10 1
K 6 4
K 7 6 5 4
A J 9 2
7 Table A 9 3 2
A J 3
6 3
A J 9 3
Bidding

Play
Defense Rebid by responder
Opener’s third bid
Elopement play
Leading trumps

Q 10 8 7
Q 10 8
K 7 5
Q 10 2
4 West 8 top tricks Lose the rest made 4 -420

West

Pass
Pass
Pass North

1
2
4 EAST
Pass
Pass
Pass
All Pass South
1
2
3 ! Board 2 A Q 8 4 3 2
3
J 9 6 5
8 2 Trick
1 E
2 N
3 S
4 N
5 S
6 N
7 N Lead
6
3
2!
3
4
A
2 2nd
7!
5
J
5
9
10
5 3rd
J
K
2
K
4
3
A 4th
Q
6
7
9
10
3
7 W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 0
7 0
J 9
Q J 9 6
K 8 7 3
K 10 7 Table 10 6 5
10 7 5
A Q 10 4
Q 9 5
Bidding

Play

Defense Opener’s third bid
Follow up major raise
Set up dummy’s suit
Avert overruff
Leading trumps

K 7
A K 8 4 2
2
A J 6 4 3
4 North 9 top tricks Win 3 more tricks made 4 +620

West

Pass
Pass
Pass North

1
2
3 NT East

Pass
Pass
All Pass SOUTH
1
2
2 NT! Board 3 K J 9 6 3
9 8 5
10 9 5
K J Trick
1 W
2 S
3 S
4 S
5 N
6 N
7 S
8 S
9 S Lead
6
A
K
3
K
5
Q
4
A 2nd
5
7
2
2
5
6
4
7
9 3rd
Q
10!
9!
J!
6
8
3
8
6 4th
K
2
3
4
8
7
J
5
7 W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 0
7 0
8 0
9 0
10 7 2
A J 7 6 4
7
Q 9 8 2 Table A Q 8 5
Q 2
J 6 3 2
7 5 4
Bidding

Play Simple preference bid
Opener’s third bid
Unblocking play

4
K 10 3
A K Q 8 4
A 10 6 3
3 NT South 5 top tricks Lose the rest made 3 +400

WEST
1
1
3 ! North
Pass
Pass
Pass East
1
2 NT
3 NT South
Pass
Pass
All Pass Board 4 Q 8 6
Q 10 2
9 7
9 8 7 5 4 Trick
1 S
2 S
3 E
4 W
5 S
6 W
7 S
8 S
9 W
10 E Lead
J
7
4
2!
9
3
10
4
5
Q 2nd
2
3
2
4
A
9
4
K
7
6 3rd
8
Q
Q
K
6
6!
5
2
A
3 4th
5
K
7
A
3
10
5
6
K
8 W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
2 2
3 2
3 3
3 4
4 4
5 4
6 4
A 4 3 2
A K 3
Q J 8 5 3
2 Table K 5
J 8 6 5
A 6 4
K Q 10 3
Bidding

Play Opener’s third bid
Choose best game
Communication/entries

J 10 9 7
9 7 4
K 10 2
A J 6
3 NT East 5 top tricks Dummy is good made 3 -600

Practice 3E17 Main

Top Opener’s Third Bid

Opener’s Third Bid V

West

Pass
Pass
Pass NORTH
1
2
2 NT!
4 East
Pass
Pass
Pass
All Pass South
1
2
3 Board 1 3
A K 5
Q J 10 9 8
K 8 4 2 Trick
1 W
2 W
3 S
4 N
5 W
6 S
7 N
8 S
9 S
10 S
11 E Lead
Q
J!
3
3!
6
8
K!
Q
J
10
4 2nd
2
4
6
5
8
10
A
4
7
9
A! 3rd
7
5
K
K
10
A
J
8
9
10
3 4th
3
2
7
A
4
9
9
6
8
Q
J W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
7 2
7 3
8 3
A 9 7 4
10 6
K 7 3
Q J 9 6 Table 8 6 5
Q 9 7
6 5 4
A 10 7 5
Bidding

Play

Defense Rebid by opener
Opener’s third bid
Timing the play
Establish side suit
Attitude signal

K Q J 10 2
J 8 4 3 2
A 2
3
4 South 5 top tricks Win the rest made 4 +420

West

1
2 NT
4 North

Pass
Pass
All Pass EAST
1
2
3 ! South
Pass
Pass
Pass Board 2 J 10 4
Q 10 6
K J 9 8 4
10 5 Trick
1 S
2 W
3 E
4 E
5 S
6 E
7 E
8 N
9 E Lead
2
3!
K
2!
5
A
8!
J
5 2nd
A!
5
9
J
Q
8
Q
4
K 3rd
9
A
4
6
K
2
J
6
5 4th
3
7
10
4
3
6
Q
7
10 W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
3 1
4 1
5 1
5 2
6 2
6 3
A 9 7 6 5
J 2
A Q 7
6 4 3 Table K 2
A 9 7 5 4 3
3
A K 8 2
Bidding

Play
Opener’s third bid
Responder’s third bid
Ruff in short hand
Timing the play

Q 8 3
K 8
10 6 5 2
Q J 9 7
4 East 9 top tricks Claim the rest made 4 -420

West

1
2
2 NT! North

Pass
Pass
All Pass East

1
2 SOUTH
Pass
Pass
Pass Board 3 A 7 6 2
J 4
A 8 5 2
6 5 2 Trick
1 N
2 W
3 S
4 E
5 W
6 W Lead
2
9!
10
3
K
3! 2nd
4
5
4
7
6
A 3rd
J
6
2
J
3
7 4th
K
Q
A
5
8
9 W L
1 0
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
4 2
8
K 10 8 6 5
K 9 3
K Q J 4 Table Q 10 9 5 3
A 2
10 7 6 4
A 3
Bidding

Play
Rebid by responder
Opener’s third bid
Play for best chance
Communication/entries

K J 4
Q 9 7 3
Q J
10 9 8 7
2 NT West 6 top tricks Win 4 more tricks made 2 -120

WEST
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
All Pass North
1
1
2 !
4 NT East
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass South
1
2
4
5 Board 4 K Q J 6 4
J
A Q 9 8 6 4
3 Trick
1 E
2 E
3 N
4 N
5 S
6 N
7 N
8 S
9 S
10 S
11 N Lead
A
6
A
6
3
Q
J
K
Q
3
Q 2nd
4
8
3
5
7
9
4
2
2
7
7 3rd
5
K
10!
K
8
9
A!
4
6
K
2 4th
3
4
2
5
8
J
7
5
8
9
A W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 1
6 1
7 1
8 1
9 1
9 2
A 10 7 2
7
J 7 5 2
K 10 5 2 Table 9 8 5
10 9 8 5 4 3
—
A Q 7 6
Bidding

Play

Defense Opener’s third bid
Blackwood convention
Communication/entries
Unblocking play
Choose lead at suit

3
A K Q 6 2
K 10 3
J 9 8 4
5 North 10 top tricks Claim the rest made 5 +600

Practice 3E21 Main

Top Opener’s Third Bid

Opener’s Third Bid VI

West

1
3
5 NORTH
Pass
Pass
Pass
All Pass East
1
1
3 ! South
Pass
Pass
Pass Board 1 J 7 4 3
J 9 8 5
A Q 10 6
7 Trick
1 S
2 N
3 S
4 E
5 W
6 E
7 W Lead
7
6
5
3
6
J
10! 2nd
3
4
2
4
Q
5
? 3rd
A
J
7
A
9
K 4th
2
9
Q
10
8
5 W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
K 2
K 7 6 2
9 3
A K 10 6 2 Table A Q 6 5
A 4 3
4 2
Q J 9 3
Bidding

Play
Defense Opener’s third bid
Choose best game
Automatic squeeze
Choose lead at suit

10 9 8
Q 10
K J 8 7 5
8 5 4
5 East 10 top tricks North is squeezed made 5 -400

West

Pass
Pass
All Pass North

1
3 EAST
Pass
Pass
Pass South
1
1
5 ! Board 2 2
K J 8 2
A Q J 7
8 6 5 4 Trick
1 W
2 N
3 S
4 N
5 S
6 N
7 S
8 N
9 W
10 S
11 S Lead
5
2!
3
4
5
2
J
5!
4
K
2 2nd
A
4
8
7
10
10
K
9
K
6
5 3rd
8
A
7
A!
J
3
Q
J
A
6
8 4th
2
6
7
10
9
3
Q
K
4
9
Q W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 0
7 0
7 1
8 1
9 1
9 2
K 10 8 6
9 7 5 4 3
6 5
K 10 Table Q 9 7 4
A Q 10 6
9 8
Q 9 7
Bidding

Play
Rebid by responder
Follow up minor raise
Timing the play
Establish side suit

A J 5 3
—
K 10 4 3 2
A J 3 2
5 South 7 top tricks Claim the rest made 5 +600

West

Pass
Pass
Pass North

1
2
3 NT East

Pass
Pass
All Pass SOUTH
1
1
3 ! Board 3 A J
K Q 8 7 3
6 2
K J 9 8 Trick
1 E
2 E
3 E
4 S
5 N
6 N
7 S
8 S
9 S Lead
K
J
9
3
J
7
K
Q
2 2nd
3
7
A
6
8
2
9
10
3 3rd
4
10
5
A
4
A
8
8
K! 4th
2
6
3
2
7
5
5?
4
7 W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
7 2
10 9 7 6 5
9 6 5
10 4
A 5 3 Table 8 2
J 10 4 2
K Q J 9 5
Q 7
Bidding

Play
Rebid by opener
Opener’s third bid
Placing enemy cards
Untangle tricks

K Q 4 3
A
A 8 7 3
10 6 4 2
3 NT North 8 top tricks Cash 2 more winners made 3 +400

WEST
1
2
2 NT! North
Pass
Pass
All Pass East
1
2 South
Pass
Pass Board 4 K 10 5
A J 9 5
J 9 4 2
J 10 Trick
1 N
2 W
3 N
4 W Lead
5?
2!
J
3 2nd
6
J
2
A 3rd
Q
7
5
8 4th
K
4
A
5 W L
1 0
1 1
2 1
2 2
6
K 3 2
K Q 7 6 3
A K Q 4 Table J 9 8 4 2
10 8 7 6
A 8
3 2
Bidding

Play Simple preference bid
Opener’s third bid
Play for best chance

A Q 7 3
Q 4
10 5
9 8 7 6 5
2 NT West 6 top tricks Lose 3 more tricks made 2 -120

Practice 3E21 Main

Top Opener’s Third Bid