Practice 4G01   Main


Notrump Leads & Strategy


  by Richard Pavlicek


West

All Pass
NORTH
1 NT
East
Pass
South
3 NT
Board 1 S K 10 4
H K 5 3
D Q 8 5
C A K J 9
Trick
1 E
2 W
3 S
4 N
5 W
6 E
7 W
Lead
H 2!
S 9!
C 6
D 5
S 7
S 2
S 5
2nd
8
10
3
2
K
D 4
C 9
3rd
A
J!
A
10
A
8
3
4th
3
Q
2
K
6
4
D 7
W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
2 2
2 3
2 4
2 5
S 9 8 7 5
H A 7 4
D K 9 6
C 10 4 3
TableS A J 3 2
H 10 9 6 2
D 3 2
C 8 5 2
Bidding
Defense
 
Response to 1 NT
Read partner’s lead
Shift to another suit
 Play

 
S Q 6
H Q J 8
D A J 10 7 4
C Q 7 6
3 NT North5 top tricksWin the restdown 1 -50


West

1 S
2 NT
North

Pass
Pass
EAST
1 C
1 NT
3 NT
South
Pass
Pass
All Pass
Board 2 S 4 3
H A 9 4
D Q 8 3 2
C 9 7 5 3
Trick
1 S
2 S
3 S
4 N
Lead
H K!
H Q!
H 10
C 3!
2nd
3
5
7
10
3rd
9
4!
A
4
4th
2
6
8
2
W L
0 1
0 2
0 3
1 3
S A J 10 2
H 7 5 3
D J 9 4
C K Q 2
TableS K Q 7
H J 8 6 2
D K 7 5
C A J 10
Bidding
Defense
 
Rebid by responder
Do not unblock
Passive defense
 Play

 
S 9 8 6 5
H K Q 10
D A 10 6
C 8 6 4
3 NT East7 top tricksLose 2 more tricksdown 1 +50


West

Pass
Pass
North

2 C
3 NT
East

Pass
All Pass
SOUTH
1 NT
2 D
Board 3 S Q 7 6
H K Q 3 2
D 2
C Q J 10 9 4
Trick
1 W
2 E
3 W
4 E
5 W
Lead
D J
D 8!
S 9!
D 4!
D 7
2nd
2
9
7
Q
C 4
3rd
A
10
A!
K
C 3
4th
3
S 6
3
H 2
5
W L
0 1
0 2
0 3
0 4
0 5
S J 9 8 2
H J 10 9
D K J 10 7 6
C 5
TableS A 10 5
H 6 5 4
D A 8 4
C 8 7 6 3
Bidding
Defense
 
Stayman convention
Return proper card
Shift to correct suit
 Play

 
S K 4 3
H A 8 7
D Q 9 5 3
C A K 2
3 NT South8 top tricksLose 1 more trickdown 2 -100


WEST
2 NT
North
Pass
East
3 NT
South
All Pass
Board 4 S Q 10 6 3
H A 9 6 2
D J 4
C 9 8 6
Trick
1 N
2 W
3 S
4 N
5 E
6 N
7 S
Lead
S 3
D 2
S 7!
C 9!
H 7
H 2!
S 5
2nd
2
4
4
10
3
10
K
3rd
J
Q
10
4
K
J
6
4th
A
A
9
5
A
8
D 3
W L
1 0
1 1
1 2
2 2
2 3
2 4
3 4
S A K 8 4
H K 8
D K 5 2
C A K J 5
TableS 9 2
H Q 10 7
D Q 9 8 3
C Q 10 3 2
Bidding
Defense
 
Opening 2 NT & response
Return proper card
Passive defense
 Play

 
S J 7 5
H J 5 4 3
D A 10 7 6
C 7 4
3 NT West6 top tricksLose 1 more trickdown 1 +100



Practice 4G05   MainTop   Notrump Leads & Strategy

Notrump Leads & Strategy II


West

Pass
All Pass
NORTH
1 C
1 NT
East
1 H
Pass
South
Dbl
3 NT
Board 1 S K 8
H A J 10
D K 6 5
C Q 9 8 7 2
Trick
1 E
2 N
3 S
4 W
5 E
6 N
7 N
Lead
H 6
D 5
C J
H 2
H 3
D K
D 6
2nd
4
2
A!
J
7
J
C 6
3rd
9
Q
2
Q
C 3!
7
A
4th
10
4
4
5
A
3
8
W L
1 0
2 0
2 1
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
S 9 7 5 3
H 9 2
D 10 8 4 3
C A 5 3
TableS J 10 2
H K Q 8 6 3
D J 2
C K 6 4
Bidding
 
Play
 
Defense
 
Negative double
Rebid by opener
Holdup play
Set up suit at notrump
Grab lead quickly
Return partner’s suit
 Play

 
S A Q 6 4
H 7 5 4
D A Q 9 7
C J 10
3 NT North7 top tricksWin 3 more tricksdown 1 -50


West

1 S
3 S
North

Pass
Pass
EAST
1 D
2 NT
3 NT
South
Pass
Pass
All Pass
Board 2 S K 6 5
H K 6 5 4
D J 4 3
C K 7 2
Trick
1 S
2 E
3 W
4 E
5 N
6 S
7 E
8 E
9 E
10 N
11 S
Lead
C 10
S 2
D 5
S 7
C 7
D 9!
D Q
D 10
H 7
C 2
C Q
2nd
3
3
3
4
8
6
8
S 9
10
4
H 9
3rd
K
Q
A
J
9
J
7
S 8
Q
6
H 4
4th
A
5!
2
K
5
K
4
S 6
K
H 2
J
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
3 1
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
6 3
6 4
6 5
S A Q J 10 8
H Q 9 2
D 7 6 5
C 5 3
TableS 7 2
H A 8 7
D A K Q 10
C A J 8 4
Bidding
 
Play
 
Defense
 
Rebid by opener
Rebid by responder
Finessing technique
Combine chances
Holdup play
Return proper card
 Play

 
S 9 4 3
H J 10 3
D 9 8 2
C Q 10 9 6
3 NT East6 top tricksSouth is endplayeddown 1 +50


West

1 NT
North

Pass
East

3 NT
SOUTH
Pass
All Pass
Board 3 S 7 4
H A 10 7 3
D K 9 7 2
C J 5 2
Trick
1 N
2 W
3 S
4 N
5 S
6 W
7 S
Lead
S 7
C 9
H 2!
H 3
H 4
C 3
H 9
2nd
5
2
Q
8
K
5
D 4
3rd
3
4
A
J
7
Q
10
4th
K
10
5
6
D 3
K
D 6
W L
1 0
1 1
1 2
1 3
2 3
2 4
2 5
S K Q J 2
H K Q 6
D A J 8 4
C 9 3
TableS A 8 5
H 8 5
D 10 6 3
C A Q 8 7 4
Bidding
Play
 
Defense
 
Response to 1 NT
Finessing technique
Set up suit at notrump
Read partner’s lead
Shift to another suit
 Play

 
S 10 9 6 3
H J 9 4 2
D Q 5
C K 10 6
3 NT West6 top tricksWin the restdown 1 +100


WEST
Pass
Pass
All Pass
North
Pass
2 NT
East
Pass
Pass
South
1 NT
3 NT
Board 4 S K 8 3
H J 9 7
D 10 8 2
C A 9 8 7
Trick
1 W
2 E
3 W
4 E
5 E
6 E
7 S
Lead
H 6
D J!
D 6
D 9
D 7
H 8
C Q
2nd
7
Q
10
4
C 10
Q
3
3rd
A
A
K
5
H 4
5
8
4th
2
2
3
8
C 7
9
2
W L
0 1
0 2
0 3
0 4
0 5
1 5
2 5
S 10 6 5
H 6 5 4
D A 6 5
C K 6 4 3
TableS 9 7 4 2
H A 10 8
D K J 9 7
C 5 2
Bidding
Defense
 
Response to 1 NT
Read partner’s lead
Entrapment play
 Play

 
S A Q J
H K Q 3 2
D Q 4 3
C Q J 10
3 NT South4 top tricksClaim the restdown 1 -100



Practice 4G09   MainTop   Notrump Leads & Strategy

Notrump Leads & Strategy III


West

Pass
NORTH
1 D
3 NT
East
1 S
All Pass
South
2 NT
Board 1 S 9 5 4
H 8 4
D K Q J 10 7
C A K J
Trick
1 W
2 E
3 S
4 E
5 W
Lead
S 7
H 9!
D 3
H 7
H A
2nd
4
K
9
10
S 5
3rd
A
6!
10
J
3
4th
3
4
A
8
Q
W L
0 1
1 1
1 2
1 3
1 4
S 7 6
H A J 6 5 2
D 9 6
C 7 6 4 2
TableS A Q 10 8 2
H 9 7 3
D A 5 2
C 5 3
Bidding
Defense
 
Cope with overcall
Shift to proper card
Duck to retain tenace
 Play

 
S K J 3
H K Q 10
D 8 4 3
C Q 10 9 8
3 NT South4 top tricksLose 2 more tricksdown 2 -100


West

3 NT
North

All Pass
EAST
1 NT
South
Pass
Board 2 S 10 9 2
H 8 7 3 2
D 4 3
C K 10 9 3
Trick
1 S
2 W
3 S
4 W
5 S
6 E
7 S
8 E
9 W
10 W
Lead
H J
D 2
H 10!
D 7
D 9!
D 5!
C 7!
H 6
H 9
S 4
2nd
A
4
K
3
8
6
8
S 7
C 3
9
3rd
2
J
3
10
H 7
S 3
9
Q
S 5
Q
4th
4
Q
5
K
A
S 2!
Q
8
C 4
K
W L
1 0
1 1
2 1
2 2
3 2
3 3
4 3
5 3
6 3
6 4
S 8 4 3
H A K Q 9
D 8 7 2
C J 8 2
TableS A Q 5
H 6 5 4
D A J 10 5
C A Q 6
Bidding
Defense
 
Response to 1 NT
Choose lead at notrump
Passive defense
 Play

 
S K J 7 6
H J 10
D K Q 9 6
C 7 5 4
3 NT East6 top tricksWin 2 more tricksdown 1 +50


West

2 C
2 NT
North

Pass
Pass
East

2 D
3 NT
SOUTH
Pass
Pass
All Pass
Board 3 S Q 6 2
H K 6 5 4
D A 7 2
C 7 6 2
Trick
1 N
2 W
3 S
4 W
5 W
6 E
7 N
8 N
Lead
C 7
D 4
H J!
S A
D 6
S 5
D A!
S 6!
2nd
5
2
A!
2
7!
7
5
8
3rd
3
Q
6
3
9
J
C 4
9
4th
K
K
2
4
3
Q
10
10
W L
1 0
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
4 2
4 3
5 3
S A K J 10
H A Q 3
D 10 6 4
C A K Q
TableS 8 5 3
H 9 2
D Q J 9 8 5
C J 10 5
Bidding
Play
 
Defense
 
Opening 2 C & response
Read enemy lead
Shun finesse
Read partner’s lead
Holdup play
 Play

 
S 9 7 4
H J 10 8 7
D K 3
C 9 8 4 3
3 NT West6 top tricksLose last 2 tricksdown 1 +100


WEST
Pass
Pass
All Pass
North
1 NT
2 D
East
Pass
Pass
South
2 C
3 NT
Board 4 S K Q J
H K 7 2
D Q J 7 2
C A 8 3
Trick
1 E
2 W
3 N
4 S
5 W
Lead
D 5
D 10
C 3
S 4
D 6
2nd
3
J?
4
A!
Q
3rd
K
4!
K
J
A
4th
2
H 3
6
2
S 5
W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
2 2
2 3
S A 8 3
H 9 8 5 4
D K 10 6
C 10 7 6
TableS 10 9 2
H Q J 10
D A 9 8 5 4
C 4 2
Bidding
Play
Defense
 
Response to 1 NT
Deceptive play
Duck to retain entry
Grab lead quickly
 Play

 
S 7 6 5 4
H A 6 3
D 3
C K Q J 9 5
3 NT North7 top tricksLose 2 more tricksdown 1 -100



Practice 4G13   MainTop   Notrump Leads & Strategy

Notrump Leads & Strategy IV


West

All Pass
NORTH
1 NT
East
Pass
South
3 NT
Board 1 S Q 4 3
H A K J 3
D 6 4 3
C A K 6
Trick
1 E
2 N
3 W
4 S
5 W
6 E
7 E
Lead
H 8
D 3
S 10!
D K
S 8
S J
S 6
2nd
4
5
3
A
Q
C 2
C 3
3rd
2
J
7
4
K
5
9
4th
A
Q
A
7
2
4
C 6
W L
1 0
1 1
2 1
2 2
2 3
2 4
2 5
S 10 9 8 5
H 10 9 2
D A Q 2
C 10 9 8
TableS K J 7 6
H 8 7 6
D 8 7 5
C Q 7 5
Bidding
Play
Defense
 
Response to 1 NT
Play for best chance
Choose lead at notrump
Read partner’s lead
 Play

 
S A 2
H Q 5 4
D K J 10 9
C J 4 3 2
3 NT North7 top tricksWin the restdown 1 -50


West

2 NT
3 NT
North

Pass
All Pass
EAST
2 D
3 H
South
Pass
Pass
Board 2 S A 9 8 7 2
H Q 10 9 6
D Q 5
C 9 4
Trick
1 N
2 S
3 W
4 E
5 W
6 E
7 W
8 W
9 E
Lead
S 7
S 10
C 3!
D 2
D 8
C 7
C A
H 4
H 7
2nd
3
J
4
9!
5
6
H 6
9
3
3rd
K
2!
Q
K
A
K
2
K
A
4th
5
H 5
5
Q!
3
9
10
2
Q!
W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 1
6 1
7 1
8 1
S Q J 6 5
H A 8 4
D K 8
C A K 8 3
TableS 3
H K 7 5
D A 10 7 6 4 2
C Q 7 2
Bidding
Defense
 
Resp to weak two-bid
Holdup play
Unblocking play
 Play

 
S K 10 4
H J 3 2
D J 9 3
C J 10 6 5
3 NT West7 top tricksLose the restdown 1 +50


West

Pass
North

3 NT
East

All Pass
SOUTH
2 NT
Board 3 S J 10 3
H 4 3 2
D Q 6 4
C K Q 4 3
Trick
1 W
2 N
3 W
4 S
5 N
6 W
7 S
8 S
9 S
10 S
11 W
12 E
Lead
C J!
H 2
S 7!
C 6
H 3
S 4
C A
C 8
H A
H 8
S 2
S 8
2nd
K
6
J
10
5
3
D 3
D 7
7
9
10
D 10
3rd
2
10
9!
Q
Q
5
3
4
4
D 4
K
D 9
4th
5
J
Q
7
K
A
9
D 5
S 6
D 8!
D 2
D 6
W L
1 0
1 1
2 1
3 1
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
7 2
7 3
7 4
7 5
S 7 4 2
H K J 9 7
D J 9 7 3
C J 10
TableS K 9 8 6 5
H 6 5
D K 8 5
C 9 7 2
Bidding
Play
Defense
 
Opening 2 NT & response
Finessing technique
Choose lead at notrump
Passive defense
 Play

 
S A Q
H A Q 10 8
D A 10 2
C A 8 6 5
3 NT South6 top tricksWin the last trickdown 1 -50


WEST
Pass
2 NT
North
Pass
Pass
East
1 NT
3 NT
South
Pass
All Pass
Board 4 S 10 8 6 3 2
H A 8 3
D 8 7 6 4
C 6
Trick
1 S
2 W
3 S
4 N
5 S
6 W
7 S
Lead
D 9
C 2
H 2!
H 8
D 2!
C 3
H K
2nd
A
6
5
10
J
S 2
S 5
3rd
4
J
A
J
6
9
3
4th
5
Q
4
6
10
K
7
W L
1 0
1 1
1 2
1 3
2 3
2 4
2 5
S K J 5
H 6 5
D A J 3
C 10 8 7 3 2
TableS A 9
H Q 10 7 4
D K Q 10 5
C A J 9
Bidding
Play
Defense
 
Response to 1 NT
Finessing technique
Choose lead at notrump
Active defense
 Play

 
S Q 7 4
H K J 9 2
D 9 2
C K Q 5 4
3 NT East7 top tricksClaim the restdown 1 +100



Practice 4G17   MainTop   Notrump Leads & Strategy

Notrump Leads & Strategy V


West

1 S
3 NT
NORTH
Pass
Pass
All Pass
East
1 C
1 NT
South
Pass
Pass
Board 1 S A Q 9 6
H Q 4 2
D K 10 8 6
C 9 3
Trick
1 S
2 E
3 N
4 W
5 S
6 E
7 N
Lead
D 4
S 10
C 9!
H J
D 2
S 3
H 4
2nd
7
2
2
Q
3
4
8
3rd
8!
7
4
K
6
J
9
4th
Q
Q
J
A
A
A
3
W L
1 0
1 1
2 1
2 2
3 2
3 3
3 4
S K J 8 7
H J 3
D J 9 7 3
C A Q J
TableS 10 3
H K 10 8 5
D A Q 5
C K 10 7 2
Bidding
 
Defense
 
Resp to 1 of a suit
Rebid by responder
Read partner’s lead
Passive defense
 Play

 
S 5 4 2
H A 9 7 6
D 4 2
C 8 6 5 4
3 NT East6 top tricksLose 1 more trickdown 1 +50


West

Pass
Pass
North

2 D
3 NT
EAST
Pass
Pass
All Pass
South
2 C
2 NT
Board 2 S 4 3
H J 5 2
D J 10 9 8 5 2
C Q 5
Trick
1 W
2 S
3 E
4 W
5 E
6 S
7 W
Lead
H 10
D 3
S 5!
S 2
S 7
D 4
S 10
2nd
2
7!
J
4
K
K
D 9
3rd
3
8
A
Q
6
5
9
4th
A
A
3
8
D 2
H 4
D 6
W L
1 0
1 1
1 2
1 3
2 3
2 4
2 5
S A 10 6 2
H 10 9 8
D K 7
C 8 7 6 2
TableS Q 9 7 5
H 7 6 4 3
D A
C 10 9 4 3
Bidding
Defense
 
Opening 2 C & response
Read partner’s lead
Read suit layout
 Play

 
S K J 8
H A K Q
D Q 6 4 3
C A K J
3 NT South6 top tricksClaim the restdown 1 -100


West

1 S
All Pass
North

2 NT
East

Pass
SOUTH
1 H
3 NT
Board 3 S K Q 9
H 6 5
D Q J 5 4
C A 10 6 5
Trick
1 E
2 N
3 E
4 W
5 N
6 S
7 S
8 N
Lead
S 8!
H 6
S 2!
S J
D 4
D K
D 8
D J
2nd
3
A!
4
K
2
9
10
C 4
3rd
10!
3
A
H 7
A
5
Q
H 8
4th
Q
2
9
5
3
6
7
H 4
W L
1 0
1 1
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
S A J 10 7 6
H K 4 2
D 10 9 3
C Q 3
TableS 8 2
H A 9 7
D 7 6 2
C J 9 8 7 4
Bidding
Defense
 
Cope with overcall
Lead partner’s suit
Grab lead quickly
 Play

 
S 5 4 3
H Q J 10 8 3
D A K 8
C K 2
3 NT North6 top tricksWin 2 more tricksdown 1 -50


WEST
2 NT
3 D
North
Pass
Pass
East
3 C
3 NT
South
Pass
All Pass
Board 4 S K 10 8 3 2
H 6 4
D Q 8 7
C 8 6 4
Trick
1 N
2 E
3 S
4 N
5 W
6 W
7 W
8 W
9 W
10 S
11 S
Lead
S 3
D 10
S 9
S 10
H A
H K
H Q
C Q
C 3
H J
D 4
2nd
Q
A!
J
C 5
4
6
C 4
6
8
D 5
3rd
4
2
K
7
2
3
5
9
10?
S 2
4th
6
7
5
A
7
9
10
2!
K
8
W L
1 0
1 1
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
6 3
6 4
S A J 6
H A K Q
D K J 6 5 2
C Q 3
TableS Q 5
H 8 5 3 2
D 10 9
C A J 10 9 5
Bidding
Defense
 
Opening 2 NT & response
Grab lead quickly
Refuse first finesse
 Play

 
S 9 7 4
H J 10 9 7
D A 4 3
C K 7 2
3 NT West6 top tricksWin 1 more trickdown 2 +200


Practice 4G17   MainTop   Notrump Leads & Strategy

© 1990 Richard Pavlicek