Practice 4C01
Main
Notrump Play Technique
by Richard Pavlicek
West
Pass
All Pass
NORTH
1
2 NT
East
Pass
Pass
South
1
3 NT
Board 1
A K J 9
K 4
A K 4
J 10 9 2
Trick
1 E
2 W
3 N
4 N
5 S
6 N
7 S
8 N
9 S
10 N
Lead
10
5!
A
J
J
10
4
2
10
K
2nd
J
K
3
3
5
5
2
9!
7
5
3rd
A
8!
6
A
!
K
!
K
!
9
8
A
!
4
4th
4
Q
2
7
8
Q
6
6
3
8
W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 1
6 1
7 1
8 1
9 1
8 7 6 2
A 7 6 5 2
5 2
Q 7
Q 5 3
10 9 8 3
Q 8 3
6 5 3
Bidding
Play
Defense
Resp to 1 of a suit
Rebid by opener
Combine chances
Return proper card
Jettison play
Play
10 4
Q J
J 10 9 7 6
A K 8 4
3 NT North
6 top tricks
Lose the rest
made 3 +400
West
2 NT
North
Pass
EAST
1
3 NT
South
Pass
All Pass
Board 2
6 5 3 2
A 7
9 6
Q J 8 7 2
Trick
1 N
2 E
3 N
4 N
5 W
6 S
7 W
8 E
9 E
10 W
11 W
Lead
7
J!
Q
2
3
Q
8
J
2
K
4
2nd
A
!
4
3
5
6
A
9
10
5
5
8
3rd
9
6
10
8
Q
2
A
7
9
3
5
4th
4
A
6
K
K
4
2
3
7
8
?
W L
1 0
1 1
1 2
2 2
2 3
3 3
4 3
5 3
6 3
7 3
0 0
A K 9
K 9 6
8 7 4 3
K 6 4
7 4
J 10 3 2
A Q J 5
A 5 3
Bidding
Play
Resp to 1 of a suit
Erase dangerous entry
Automatic squeeze
Play
Q J 10 8
Q 8 5 4
K 10 2
10 9
3 NT West
5 top tricks
South is squeezed
made 4 -430
West
Pass
All Pass
North
2 NT
East
Pass
SOUTH
1 NT
3 NT
Board 3
Q J 5
6 5 4
A J 10 3
5 3 2
Trick
1 W
2 S
3 N
4 S
5 W
6 W
7 W
8 W
9 S
10 N
11 S
Lead
2
3!
3
4!
Q
J
7
6
7
10!
A
2nd
4
2
7
K
5
6
2
3
8
9
10
3rd
K
Q
K
5
3
10
5
J
J
Q
!
5
4th
A
!
6
8
9
8
9
8
A
6
2
4
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
3 1
3 2
3 3
3 4
4 4
5 4
6 4
7 4
K 10 8 2
Q J 7 2
8 2
10 7 6
9 6
K 10 3
9 7 6 5
K Q J 4
Bidding
Play
Defense
Response to 1 NT
Shun holdup play
Lead toward honor
Choose lead at notrump
Play
A 7 4 3
A 9 8
K Q 4
A 9 8
3 NT South
7 top tricks
Win the rest
made 3 +400
WEST
1
2
North
Pass
Pass
East
1
3 NT
South
Pass
All Pass
Board 4
K 7 2
A 10 7 2
9 7 6 5
Q 10
Trick
1 S
2 S
3 N
4 E
5 W
6 E
Lead
Q
9!
2
2
6!
4
2nd
5
5
A
!
8
2
2
3rd
7
K
4
J
K
6!
4th
3
6!
5
5
3
10
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
3 3
5
Q 8 6 5
A Q J 4
A 7 6 5
A 8 6 3
K 4
K 3 2
K 9 8 4
Bidding
Play
Defense
Rebid by opener
Rebid by responder
Holdup play
Avoidance duck
Continue proper card
Play
Q J 10 9 4
J 9 3
10 8
J 3 2
3 NT East
7 top tricks
Win 6 more tricks
made 3 -600
Practice 4C05
Main
Top
Notrump Play Technique
Notrump Play Technique II
West
3
NORTH
Pass
Pass
East
1 NT
3 NT
South
2
All Pass
Board 1
6 4
K 9 8 7 2
7 6
9 7 6 5
Trick
1 S
2 S
3 E
4 N
5 E
6 E
7 W
8 E
9 W
10 W
11 W
12 W
Lead
K
Q
Q
7
J
J!
6
2
A
K
9
3
2nd
3
5
5
A
4
Q
7
5
8
9
5
6
3rd
4
6
3
Q
4
A
10
8
!
8
3
4
K
4th
2
A
!
K
2
2
6
9
7
10
10
J
10
W L
0 1
1 1
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
7 2
8 2
9 2
10 2
7 5 3
A 6 4 3
A K 9 8
3 2
A 8 2
Q J 10
J 4 3 2
A K 8
Bidding
Play
Defense
Interference over 1 NT
Cue-bid general force
Holdup play
Avoidance finesse
Honor signal
Play
K Q J 10 9
5
Q 10 5
Q J 10 4
3 NT East
6 top tricks
Lose the last trick
made 4 -430
West
Pass
Pass
All Pass
North
1 NT
2
EAST
Pass
Pass
Pass
South
Pass
2
1
3 NT
Board 2
A 5 3
A 5
A J 10 5 4
Q 3 2
Trick
1 E
2 N
3 N
4 S
5 W
6 E
7 E
8 E
9 S
10 S
11 S
12 N
Lead
2
A
!
5
Q
J
10
8
6
J
4
3
J
2nd
4
8
2
K
3
9
4
A
2
8
9
8
3rd
K
3
10
4
Q
7
9
J
3
Q
A
6!
4th
A
!
7
6
5
6
5
5
2
7
K
7
9
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
3 1
3 2
3 3
3 4
4 4
5 4
6 4
7 4
8 4
K J 7
K 9 7 6
9 2
J 10 9 8
Q 10 8 2
8 2
Q 8 7
K 7 6 5
Note 1
Bidding
Play
Defense
Jacoby transfer bid
Choose best game
Shun holdup play
Placing enemy cards
Overtaking play
Play
9 6 4
Q J 10 4 3
K 6 3
A 4
3 NT North
5 top tricks
Win the last trick
made 3 +600
West
Pass
Pass
Pass
All Pass
North
2
3
4 NT
East
Pass
Pass
Pass
SOUTH
1 NT
2
3 NT
6 NT
Board 3
10 3
K J 4 3
A Q J 4 3
A 4
Trick
1 W
2 S
3 S
4 N
5 N
6 N
7 N
8 E
9 S
10 N
11 S
Lead
10
K
2
Q
J
4
4!
6
7
4
Q
2nd
3
5
6
9
6
7
K
A
!
8
7
9
3rd
5
3
A
3
2
5
6
4
A
Q
10
4th
A
7
8
10
8
9
2
3
5
9
10
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 0
6 1
7 1
8 1
9 1
10 1
K 9 4
10 9 8
10 6 5
J 9 8 2
J 8 7 6
7 6 5
9 8 7
K 10 5
Bidding
Play
Stayman convention
Quantitative 4 NT
Combine chances
Retain suit control
Play
A Q 5 2
A Q 2
K 2
Q 7 6 3
6 NT South
10 top tricks
Claim the rest
made 6 +990
WEST
1 NT
North
Pass
East
3 NT!
South
All Pass
Board 4
A 9 8
J 10 9
10 7
J 10 7 6 3
Trick
1 N
2 W
3 S
4 W
5 N
6 E
7 W
8 E
Lead
6
3!
9
10
7
8
3!
2
2nd
4
8
Q
A
A
5
7
Q
3rd
8
J
3
2
2
A
K
3!
4th
K
K
5
4
2
9
6
10
W L
1 0
1 1
2 1
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
5 3
10 7 3
A K 6 3
A 4 3 2
K Q
Q J 2
8 7 4 2
K 9 5
A 5 4
Bidding
Play
Response to 1 NT
Lead weak suit first
Avoidance duck
Play
K 6 5 4
Q 5
Q J 8 6
9 8 2
3 NT West
7 top tricks
Win 4 more tricks
made 3 -600
Practice 4C09
Main
Top
Notrump Play Technique
Notrump Play Technique III
West
All Pass
NORTH
1
East
2
South
3 NT
Board 1
A K
K 3 2
A 7 6 4
8 7 6 4
Trick
1 W
2 N
3 S
4 S
5 S
6 E
7 N
8 N
9 E
Lead
7
4
Q
J
J
4
A
3
10
2nd
K
10
3
4
6
9
9
A
Q
3rd
3
K
6
7
2
2
2
5
K
4th
5
2
5
8
Q
A
5
7
4
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
4 1
5 1
6 1
6 2
6 3
7 2
9 8 7 6 4
3 2
K J 9 5
J 10 8 6 4 3
A Q
10 9 8 5
10
Bidding
Play
Defense
Cope with overcall
Communication/entries
Go after sure trick
Lead partner’s suit
Second-hand play
Play
Q 9 5
J 10 5
K Q J
A Q 3 2
3 NT South
8 top tricks
Lose 1 more trick
made 3 +400
West
3 NT
North
All Pass
EAST
2
South
Pass
Board 2
A 10 4 2
A J 8 5 3
J 4
J 5
Trick
1 N
2 E
3 S
4 N
5 W
6 E
Lead
5
3!
9
J
10
A
2nd
10
!
Q
Q
3
J
9
3rd
4
2
A
6
K
2
4th
7
4
2
K
6
4
W L
1 0
1 1
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
K Q J
K Q 7
10 2
A K 10 6 2
7 5
10 2
A K 8 7 5 3
8 4 3
Bidding
Play
Resp to weak two-bid
Play to trick one
Ducking play
Play
9 8 6 3
9 6 4
Q 9 6
Q 9 7
3 NT West
4 top tricks
Cash 5 more winners
made 3 -400
West
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
North
1
4 NT
5 NT
6 NT
East
Pass
Pass
Pass
All Pass
SOUTH
1
2
5
6
Board 3
K Q 7
Q J 10 9
A J 5
A K 6
Trick
1 E
2 S
3 N
4 S
5 N
6 W
Lead
J
2
5!
3
Q!
6
2nd
A
4
7!
4
3
Q
3rd
3
A
!
10
K
2
2
4th
7
6
5
2
K
3
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
4 1
5 1
8 6 5 4 3
K 8 7 6
—
9 8 7 4
J 10 9 2
5 3
K 9 8 7 6
10 2
Bidding
Play
Defense
Rebid by opener
Blackwood convention
Timing the play
Second-hand play
Play
A
A 4 2
Q 10 4 3 2
Q J 5 3
6 NT North
9 top tricks
Win the rest
made 6 +990
WEST
Pass
2
3 NT
North
Pass
Pass
All Pass
East
1 NT
2
South
Pass
Pass
Board 4
Q 6
A K 8 5
Q 5
9 7 6 4 3
Trick
1 S
2 N
3 E
4 E
5 E
6 W
7 W
8 E
Lead
3
5!
K
A
4
10
9
2
2nd
6
Q
!
2
2
5
4
6
5
3rd
K
7
3
7
8
6
J
K
!
4th
2
10
5
Q
3
8
3
6
W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 1
6 1
7 1
K J 10 7
10 6
10 9 8 7 3
A J
8 4 2
Q 4 2
A K J 6 4
K Q
Bidding
Play
Defense
Stayman convention
Placing enemy cards
Try to fool declarer
Play
A 9 5 3
J 9 7 3
2
10 8 5 2
3 NT East
4 top tricks
Cash 2 more winners
made 3 -600
Practice 4C13
Main
Top
Notrump Play Technique
Notrump Play Technique IV
West
Pass
All Pass
NORTH
1
2 NT
East
1
Pass
South
1
3 NT
Board 1
Q J 10
A 3
A 8 5
A K 9 6 3
Trick
1 E
2 E
3 N
4 S
5 N
6 S
7 W
Lead
K
J
10
4
J
5
2
2nd
2
3
2
2
3
Q
A
3rd
4
7
K
K
A
3!
6
4th
5
A
!
5
8
6
10
4
W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
4 2
5 2
9 8 7 6 5
J 7 5 2
7 4
Q 2
3 2
K Q 6
K Q J 9 6
J 10 8
Bidding
Play
Defense
Cope with overcall
Holdup play
Avoidance duck
Attitude signal
Play
A K 4
10 9 8 4
10 3 2
7 5 4
3 NT North
7 top tricks
Cash 4 more winners
made 3 +400
West
Dbl
3 NT
North
Pass
All Pass
EAST
1
2
South
1
Pass
Board 2
Q 10 9 7 3 2
J 5 2
7 6
9 8
Trick
1 N
2 S
3 N
4 W
5 E
6 E
7 W
8 W
9 E
10 E
Lead
2
8
5
2
J
8
A
3
A
6
2nd
4
10
4
8
3
4
2
9
5
9
3rd
Q
J
7
K
2!
K
5
A
5
8!
4th
3
6
A
10
6
7
4
J
3
9
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
7 2
7 3
A K J 8
A 10 3
K 2
6 5 3 2
6 5
6 4
A J 10 9 8
A K 7 4
Bidding
Play
Negative double
Avoidance finesse
Throw-in play
Play
4
K Q 9 8 7
Q 5 4 3
Q J 10
3 NT West
7 top tricks
N endplayed (lose 1)
made 3 -400
West
Pass
Pass
North
2
3 NT
East
Pass
All Pass
SOUTH
1 NT
2
Board 3
K 8 6 4
Q 3
A 10 8 5
Q 9 2
Trick
1 W
2 E
3 N
4 W
5 S
6 E
Lead
5
6
4!
J
Q
J
2nd
3!
10
2
6
3
3
3rd
K
4
Q
2
5
5
4th
7!
Q
A
A
K
K
W L
0 1
1 1
1 2
2 2
2 3
3 3
A 5
J 9 8 5 4
4 3
10 8 7 3
J 10 7 2
K 6 2
K 6 2
6 5 4
Bidding
Play
Stayman convention
Play to trick one
Holdup play
Play
Q 9 3
A 10 7
Q J 9 7
A K J
3 NT South
5 top tricks
Lose the last trick
made 3 +400
WEST
1
3 NT
North
Pass
All Pass
East
2 NT
South
Pass
Board 4
Q 4 3
10 9 8 7
J 9
Q J 10 9
Trick
1 S
2 W
3 S
4 N
5 E
6 W
7 E
8 N
9 W
10 W
11 E
Lead
J
2
9
4?
2
3
3
Q
A
4
5
2nd
A
10
5
K
10?
7
7
4
9
8
5
3rd
3
K
Q
7
K
Q
8!
2
4
J
6
4th
2
A
8
6
9
6
J
K
Q
3
?
W L
1 0
1 1
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
4 3
5 3
6 3
7 3
0 0
A 6 5
5 4 3 2
A K 8 6
K 7
K 8 2
K Q J
5 4 3 2
A 8 4
Bidding
Play
Resp to 1 of a suit
Shun holdup play
Avoidance finesse
Play
J 10 9 7
A 6
Q 10 7
6 5 3 2
3 NT East
6 top tricks
North is squeezed
made 4 -630
Practice 4C17
Main
Top
Notrump Play Technique
Notrump Play Technique V
West
Pass
NORTH
1
3 NT
East
1
All Pass
South
2
Board 1
A K 2
A Q 7
A K 5 4
6 5 3
Trick
1 E
2 N
3 N
4 N
5 S
6 W
Lead
6
K
A
3!
7
5
2nd
2
2
7
8
Q
A
3rd
10
3
6
K
!
4
3
4th
Q
8
10
2
7
8
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
4 1
5 1
9 8 6 4 3
10 5
Q 10 8
Q 10 2
Q J 7
K J 9 6 4 3
2
A 8 7
Bidding
Play
Cope with overcall
Follow up minor raise
Placing enemy cards
Timing the play
Play
10 5
8 2
J 9 7 6 3
K J 9 4
3 NT North
6 top tricks
Cash 4 more winners
made 3 +400
West
2 NT
North
Pass
EAST
1
3 NT
South
Pass
All Pass
Board 2
Q J 7 5 3
J 8 7 6
7 6
7 6
Trick
1 N
2 S
3 N
4 W
5 S
6 W
7 S
8 E
Lead
5
10
3
3
5
5
4
A
2nd
2
9
8
6
Q
6
9
?
3rd
K
J
!
3
9!
6
10!
7
4th
4
6
A
10
2
J
K
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
1 3
2 3
2 4
3 4
A 9 4
Q 10 9
A 8 4 3
K 9 5
8 6 2
A K 2
K 9 2
A 10 4 3
Bidding
Play
Defense
Resp to 1 of a suit
Avoidance finesse
Automatic squeeze
Overtaking play
Play
K 10
5 4 3
Q J 10 5
Q J 8 2
3 NT West
8 top tricks
South is squeezed
made 3 -400
West
Pass
Pass
North
2
3 NT
East
Pass
All Pass
SOUTH
1 NT
2
Board 3
8 4 3
Q J 6 5
A Q J 4
8 2
Trick
1 W
2 E
3 S
4 E
5 S
6 N
Lead
6
9
3!
3
4
5
2nd
3
A
2
A
9
10
3rd
J
5
Q
6
J
8
4th
2!
4
K
2
7
A
W L
0 1
1 1
1 2
2 2
3 2
3 3
Q 10 7 6 5
A 9 2
10 9 8
Q 6
J 9
K 10 7
7 6 5 2
J 10 7 3
Bidding
Play
Stayman convention
Holdup play
Play for best chance
Play
A K 2
8 4 3
K 3
A K 9 5 4
3 NT South
8 top tricks
Win the rest
made 4 +430
WEST
1
2
North
Pass
Pass
East
2
3 NT
South
Pass
All Pass
Board 4
Q J 8 3
10 9 8 5
Q 10 3
K 9
Trick
1 S
2 E
3 W
4 N
5 S
6 S
7 S
8 E
Lead
6
2
4
9
Q
8
4
A
2nd
2
6
10
10
5
7
2
J
3rd
K
K
5!
J
3
8
J
7
4th
A
!
3
8
3
4
9
A
Q
W L
1 0
2 0
2 1
2 2
2 3
2 4
3 4
4 4
7 2
A K Q 7 6
K 4
7 5 3 2
A 10 9
4 3
A 9 7 5 2
A 10 4
Play
Shun holdup play
Combine chances
Play
K 6 5 4
J 2
J 8 6
Q J 8 6
3 NT East
7 top tricks
Win the rest
made 3 -600
Practice 4C21
Main
Top
Notrump Play Technique
Notrump Play Technique VI
West
Pass
NORTH
1 NT
3 NT
East
2
All Pass
South
3
Board 1
A 2
Q 9 3
K Q 4 3
A J 10 4
Trick
1 E
2 E
3 S
4 S
5 E
6 N
7 N
8 S
9 S
Lead
A
!
10
J
2!
9
A
4
K
6
2nd
4
A
3
5
7
5
6
8
8
3rd
8!
2
2!
10
5
7
J
4
J
4th
3
3
4
Q
Q
6
7
7
3
W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
7 2
Q 8 6 5 3
8 2
2
K 9 8 7 5
4
A K J 10 7
10 9 8 6 5
Q 3
Bidding
Play
Defense
Interference over 1 NT
Avoidance finesse
Ace lead at notrump
Count signal
Play
K J 10 9 7
6 5 4
A J 7
6 2
3 NT North
7 top tricks
Cash 2 more winners
made 3 +400
West
Dbl
2
3 NT
North
Pass
Pass
All Pass
EAST
Pass
2
2 NT
South
1
Pass
Pass
Board 2
7 6 2
8 7 6
Q 8 7 5
10 9 2
Trick
1 S
2 S
3 W
4 W
5 W
6 E
7 E
8 W
9 S
Lead
A
!
J!
A
K
J
10
3
7!
4
2nd
3
K
6
7
8
9
J
9
A
3rd
2
8
4
5
Q
!
3
Q
4
7
4th
8!
2
2
3
9
5
2
K
9
W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 1
6 1
6 2
7 2
5 3
A K J
A K 6 3
A Q 8 7
Q 8 4
Q 10 5 4
9 2
6 5 4 3
Bidding
Play
Defense
Resp to takeout double
Rebid by doubler
Deceptive play
Avoidance duck
Ace lead at notrump
Play
A K J 10 9
9 3 2
J 10 4
K J
3 NT East
7 top tricks
Win 2 more tricks
made 3 -400
West
Pass
All Pass
North
3
East
Pass
SOUTH
1
3 NT
Board 3
Q J 10
4
K J 9 6 5
A 4 3 2
Trick
1 W
2 S
3 N
4 N
5 N
Lead
6
2
Q
!
J
5
2nd
4
8
2
4
7
3rd
Q
K
8
9
10
!
4th
K
3
6
3
5
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
7 6 5 3
A 9 8 6 2
8
10 6 5
K 4 2
Q 10 7
Q 7 3
K Q 9 7
Bidding
Play
Defense
Resp to 1 of a suit
Rebid by opener
Avoidance finesse
Safety play
When to cover honor
Choose lead at notrump
Play
A 9 8
K J 5 3
A 10 4 2
J 8
3 NT South
4 top tricks
Cash 5 more winners
made 4 +430
WEST
1 NT
North
Pass
East
3 NT
South
All Pass
Board 4
J 10 7 3 2
5 4 3
A 9 6
K Q
Trick
1 N
2 W
3 N
4 W
5 N
6 E
7 E
8 W
9 W
10 W
Lead
3
2
J
4
2?
A
6
10
8
Q
2nd
6
Q
8
K
Q
J
7
4
6
5
3rd
9
3!
5
7!
2
6
A
!
2
3
K
!
4th
A
5
K
9
4
9
3
8
8
9
W L
1 0
1 1
2 1
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
7 2
8 2
A K 4
A Q
K 7 5
10 8 6 4 2
Q 8 6
K J 10 6
4 3 2
A 7 3
Bidding
Play
Defense
Response to 1 NT
Avoidance duck
Choose lead at notrump
Discard signal
Play
9 5
9 8 7 2
Q J 10 8
J 9 5
3 NT West
8 top tricks
Cash 2 more winners
made 4 -630
Practice 4C21
Main
Top
Notrump Play Technique
© 1999 Richard Pavlicek