Practice 4A01 Main

Card Combinations

by Richard Pavlicek

West

2 NT
3 NORTH
Pass
Pass
Pass East
1
3
4 South
Pass
Pass
All Pass Board 1 J 10 6
Q 8 7 3 2
K 7
10 8 6 Trick
1 S
2 E
3 W
4 S
5 W
6 E
7 N
8 E Lead
5
5
3
4
4
Q
6
9 2nd
J!
9
10
K
J
5
K!
6 3rd
Q
Q
7!
2
K
3
7
4! 4th
2
6
A
2!
6
K
3
7 W L
1 0
2 0
2 1
3 1
4 1
4 2
5 2
6 2
Q 4 3
A K J
A 10 4 3
5 4 3 Table K 8 7 5 2
—
Q 9 8 2
A K J 2
Bidding
Play Resp to 1 of a suit
Finessing technique Play

A 9
10 9 6 5 4
J 6 5
Q 9 7
4 East 8 top tricks Win the rest made 5 -450

West

Pass
All Pass North

1 EAST
Pass
Pass South
1
4 Board 2 Q 7 6
A 8 7 5 4
Q 6 3
7 5 Trick
1 E
2 S
3 N
4 E
5 S
6 S
7 N
8 S
9 N
10 S Lead
2
10
4
2
Q
3
3!
6
6!
2 2nd
K
3
K
A
8
9
5
8
K
8 3rd
4
A!
9!
3
7
Q
10
8
A
Q 4th
6
2
10
5
J
5
4
4
7
10 W L
1 0
2 0
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 1
6 1
7 1
8 1
9 1
9 8 4
3
9 8 7 4
K 10 9 8 3 Table J 10 5 2
K J 2
K 5
Q 6 4 2
Bidding
Play
Defense
Rebid by opener
Finessing technique
Protect dummy’s suit
Discard signal Play

A K 3
Q 10 9 6
A J 10 2
A J
4 North 8 top tricks Win the rest made 6 +680

West

Pass
Pass North

1
3 NT East

Pass
All Pass SOUTH
1
2 NT Board 3 7 5 3
A Q 10 5
J 5 4 3
10 5 Trick
1 W
2 S
3 S
4 E
5 S
6 N
7 S
8 N
9 S
10 S Lead
4
A
2
2
4
J!
6
4
10
A 2nd
3
2
7
A
8
Q
9
7
9
8 3rd
J
3
10
6
Q
K
A
8
5
5 4th
K
6
J
5
3
3
7
4
9
9 W L
1 0
2 0
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 1
6 1
7 1
8 1
9 1
10 9 6 4
K 9 8 7
2
K 8 4 3 Table Q J 8 2
J 3
Q 9 7 6
Q 9 7
Bidding
Play
Defense Rebid by opener
Finessing technique
Choose lead at notrump Play

A K
6 4 2
A K 10 8
A J 6 2
3 NT South 6 top tricks Lose the rest made 3 +400

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

Play
Opening 2 NT & response
Quantitative 4 NT
Communication/entries
Finessing technique Play

10 8 2
6 5 4
K 7 2
J 10 8 6
6 NT West 9 top tricks Claim the rest made 6 -1440

Practice 4A05 Main

Top Card Combinations

Card Combinations II

West

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

Play
Defense Opening one-bid
Response to 1 NT
Finessing technique
Choose lead at notrump Play

A Q 10 2
A 10 9
J 4 2
J 7 4
3 NT North 6 top tricks Claim the rest made 7 +520

West

2 NT North

Pass EAST
1
3 NT South
Pass
All Pass Board 2 A 10 8 2
Q J 8 4 3
4
K 9 8 Trick
1 N
2 W
3 E
4 N
5 E
6 E
7 E
8 W
9 E
10 W Lead
4
2
4
Q
10
6
2!
8
6
K 2nd
5
8
J
A
3
5
5
2
9
3 3rd
10
A!
Q
7
3
5
Q
A
10
6 4th
K
7
K
2
9
8
4
7
10
J W L
1 0
2 0
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 1
6 1
7 1
8 1
9 1
K 3
K 9 2
K Q 10 8
Q 5 3 2 Table J 9 4
A 6 5
A 6 2
A 10 6 4
Bidding
Play
Defense Resp to 1 of a suit
Finessing technique
Discard signal Play

Q 7 6 5
10 7
J 9 7 5 3
J 7
3 NT West 6 top tricks Lose the rest made 3 -400

West

1
All Pass North

3 East

Pass SOUTH
1
4 Board 3 8 6 4 2
8 7 6 4
A J 9
A Q Trick
1 W
2 S
3 N
4 W
5 W
6 S
7 N
8 S
9 S
10 E
11 S Lead
K
7
4
Q
J
K
6
A
5
9
6 2nd
2
2
2
4
6
3
3
10
3
9
10 3rd
10
Q
J
5
5
A
10!
7
9!
J
J 4th
A
4
K
3
5
6
7
Q
Q
8
2 W L
1 0
2 0
2 1
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
6 3
7 3
8 3
K Q J 9 7
K
K 10 3
J 10 3 2 Table 10 5
Q 3 2
Q 4 2
9 8 6 5 4
Bidding
Play
Defense
Cope with overcall
Finessing technique
Attitude signal
Make declarer ruff Play

A 3
A J 10 9 5
8 7 6 5
K 7
4 South 7 top tricks Claim the rest made 4 +420

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

Defense Rebid after 2-over-1
Avoidance finesse
Finessing technique
Shift to another suit Play

J 5
A J 9 5 3
8 5 4
J 7 2
3 NT East 6 top tricks Cash 5 more winners made 3 -600

Practice 4A09 Main

Top Card Combinations

Card Combinations III

West

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

Defense Rebid by opener
Play to trick one
Finessing technique
Discard signal Play

K 7
A Q 4 2
A 7 5 4
A J 9
3 NT South 6 top tricks Lose the rest made 3 +400

West

2
3 NT North

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

Defense Stayman convention
Unblocking play
Finessing technique
When to cover honor Play

Q J 9 8 5
J 5
2
J 7 6 5 4
3 NT East 6 top tricks Lose last 2 tricks made 4 -430

West

Pass
Pass North

1
4 East

Pass
All Pass SOUTH
1
2 Board 3 A 8 6 2
A 8 7 5 4
A 8 2
3 Trick
1 E
2 S
3 N
4 E
5 N
6 S
7 E Lead
J
10
4
9
5
Q!
5 2nd
K
2
K
4
J
4
A! 3rd
7
A!
3
3
Q
2
8 4th
2
6
2
A
4
K
3 W L
1 0
2 0
2 1
3 1
4 1
4 2
5 2
J 4
2
Q 7 6 3
K 10 9 8 4 2 Table K 7 5
K J 6
J 10 9 5
7 6 5
Bidding
Play
Follow up major raise
Finessing technique
Shun finesse Play

Q 10 9 3
Q 10 9 3
K 4
A Q J
4 North 7 top tricks Win the rest made 5 +450

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

Play

Defense Resp to 1 of a suit
Rebid after 2-over-1
Finessing technique
Automatic squeeze
Heart shift holds to 10 Play

J 10 7
Q J 4
J 10 8 6
Q 6 4
4 West 8 top tricks South is squeezed made 5 -650

Practice 4A13 Main

Top Card Combinations

Card Combinations IV

West

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

A Q 4 2
Q 5
Q 5 4
A 5 4 3
3 NT North 6 top tricks W endplayed (lose 1) made 3 +400

West

1
3 North

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

Q 8 6 5
3
7 5 3
Q J 10 9 6
4 East 8 top tricks Lose the last trick made 4 -420

West

1 NT
6 NT North

Pass
All Pass East

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

J 6 2
9 8 7 3
10 7 5
7 6 4
6 NT West 8 top tricks Win the rest made 6 -1440

WEST
Pass
Pass North
1
3 NT East
Pass
All Pass South
2 NT Board 4 J 8 5
K 4 2
A 6 4
A Q 9 4 Trick
1 W
2 W
3 S
4 N
5 S
6 E
7 N
8 E
9 S
10 S Lead
Q
10
2
4
2
9
6
2
A
J 2nd
2
4
3
9
6
5
K
K!
7
? 3rd
6
7
A
Q
9!
8
7
3
8 4th
3
A
5
8
K
K
J
5
4 W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
3 1
3 2
4 2
4 3
5 3
6 3
Q 7 3
Q J 10 8
8 3
J 10 8 6 Table 10 9 4 2
9 7 6
K 10 9 5
K 7
Bidding
Play
Resp to 1 of a suit
Finessing technique
Positional squeeze Play

A K 6
A 5 3
Q J 7 2
5 3 2
3 NT South 6 top tricks West is squeezed made 4 +630

Practice 4A17 Main

Top Card Combinations

Card Combinations V

West

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

Play
Defense
Resp to 1 of a suit
Follow up major raise
Finessing technique
Choose discard
Protect dummy’s suit Play

Q 9 5
A J 9 7
6 4 3
8 4 3
4 North 9 top tricks Win the last trick made 4 +420

West

1
6 North

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

Play
Defense Passed hand response
Slam decision
Finessing technique
When to cover honor Play

2
9 7 6 5 3
J 8 7 6
Q 8 7
6 West 10 top tricks Win the rest made 6 -980

West

Pass
All Pass North

2 East

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

Play

Defense Cope with T/O double
Follow up major raise
Finessing technique
Ruff in short hand
Leading trumps Play

9 2
A 9 8 7 6
A 5
A Q 9 5
3 South 7 top tricks Win the rest made 3 +140

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

Play

Defense Response to 1 NT
Blackwood convention
Finessing technique
Automatic squeeze
Protect dummy’s suit Play

Q 10 6 2
2
K 9 8 5
J 9 6 5
6 East 10 top tricks South is squeezed made 6 -1430

Practice 4A17 Main

Top Card Combinations