Practice 4H01
Main
Suit Leads & Strategy
by Richard Pavlicek
West
All Pass
NORTH
1 NT
East
Pass
South
2
Board 1
J 8 7
A K 7
A K J 6
7 4 2
Trick
1 W
2 N
3 W
4 E
5 W
6 E
Lead
9
7
Q
5!
6
7!
2nd
K
!
3
2
4
4
8
3rd
2
2
K
!
4
A
5
4th
3
A
5
6
10
J
W L
1 0
1 1
1 2
1 3
1 4
1 5
A 5 4
Q 8 6 2
9
Q J 9 6 3
K 3
J 10 9 3
10 7 5 2
A K 8
Bidding
Play
Defense
Response to 1 NT
Deceptive play
Read partner’s lead
Overtaking play
Play
Q 10 9 6 2
5 4
Q 8 4 3
10 5
2
South
9 top tricks
Lose 1 trump trick
down 1 -50
West
2
North
Pass
EAST
1
4
South
Pass
All Pass
Board 2
A J 10
Q 2
10 9 8 5
10 9 8 5
Trick
1 S
2 E
3 N
4 S
5 W
6 E
7 E
8 W
9 E
10 W
11 N
Lead
4!
3
10!
4!
2
K
4
7
7
2
9!
2nd
5
4
Q
A
5
J
Q
8
J!
10
8
3rd
Q
K
K
5
A
3
6
7
10
9
9
4th
A
A
2!
3
6
8
9
6
10
5
6
W L
1 0
1 1
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
7 2
7 3
7 4
K 8 7 6 2
10 6 5
3 2
A 7 2
9 3
A K J 8 7
A K 7 4
Q 3
Bidding
Play
Defense
Resp to 1 of a suit
Follow up major raise
Set up dummy’s suit
Ruff in short hand
Leading trumps
Attack dummy’s entry
Play
Q 5 4
9 4 3
Q J 6
K J 6 4
4
East
8 top tricks
Win the rest
down 1 +50
West
Pass
Pass
North
1
2
East
Pass
All Pass
SOUTH
1
1 NT
Board 3
J 9 2
K 8 7 4 3 2
10 2
K Q
Trick
1 E
2 W
3 S
4 W
5 S
6 N
7 E
Lead
4
8!
3
7!
6
10
4
2nd
2
9
A
!
J
10
K
3
3rd
A
10
2
Q
K
4
6
4th
Q
K
6
A
9
5
2
W L
0 1
1 1
1 2
2 2
3 2
3 3
3 4
8 7 6
Q J 10 5
A 7 5
A 9 8
Q 10 5 4
9
K 8 6
J 10 6 4 3
Bidding
Play
Defense
Rebid by opener
Set up dummy’s suit
Choose lead at suit
Attack dummy’s entry
Play
A K 3
A 6
Q J 9 4 3
7 5 2
2
North
7 top tricks
Lose 2 trump tricks
down 1 -50
WEST
1
4
North
Pass
All Pass
East
2
South
Pass
Board 4
9 3
Q J 10 6
10 9 7 4 3
J 7
Trick
1 N
2 S
3 E
4 N
5 S
6 W
7 W
Lead
Q
2!
5
3!
6!
Q
10
2nd
K
5
3
4
K
6
4
3rd
A
9
8
A
3
2
6
4th
2
J
10
8
7
7
5!
W L
0 1
1 1
1 2
1 3
2 3
3 3
4 3
K Q 10 8 5
9 8 4 2
A
A K 6
J 7 4
K 5
K 8 6 2
Q 5 4 3
Bidding
Play
Defense
Follow up major raise
Ruff in short hand
Pseudo squeeze
Shift to trumps
Protect dummy’s suit
Play
A 6 2
A 7 3
Q J 5
10 9 8 2
4
West
9 top tricks
Lose 1 more trick
down 1 +100
Practice 4H05
Main
Top
Suit Leads & Strategy
Suit Leads & Strategy II
West
2
NORTH
1
4
East
1
All Pass
South
2
Board 1
10 2
K Q J 9 7
K 3
A K Q 4
Trick
1 E
2 E
3 E
4 N
5 N
6 N
7 N
8 N
9 S
10 N
Lead
Q
J
!
5
K
Q
A
K
3
2
4!
2nd
4
6
K
2!
3
2
8
9
7
5
!
3rd
8
7
A
4
8
5
6
A
K
J
4th
2
10
7
6
5
7
3
6
Q
9
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
7 2
7 3
A 8 7
6
J 10 7 6 5
10 9 7 3
Q J 9 5 3
A 5 3 2
Q 9
8 2
Bidding
Play
Defense
Follow up major raise
Deceptive play
Make declarer ruff
Duck to keep control
Play
K 6 4
10 8 4
A 8 4 2
J 6 5
4
North
10 top tricks
Concede high trump
down 1 -50
West
3
North
Pass
EAST
2 NT
4
South
Pass
All Pass
Board 2
A 10 9 8 4 2
Q J 9
10 9 8
8
Trick
1 N
2 S
3 N
4 S
Lead
10
3!
2
5
2nd
3
6
K
4
3rd
J
!
A
3
8
4th
2
5
7
K
W L
0 1
0 2
0 3
1 3
Q 7 6
10 8 6 5 4
2
Q J 6 4
K J 5
A K 2
K 6 5 4 3
A K
Bidding
Defense
Opening 2 NT & response
Rebid by NT bidder
Choose lead at suit
Overtaking play
Play
3
7 3
A Q J 7
10 9 7 5 3 2
4
West
8 top tricks
Lose 1 trump trick
down 1 +50
West
Pass
All Pass
North
2
East
Pass
SOUTH
1
3
Board 3
10 8 6
A Q 4
7 2
10 9 8 7 5
Trick
1 W
2 S
3 S
4 S
5 E
6 N
7 W
8 W
Lead
J
A
K
3
10!
10
J
K!
2nd
2
2
7
2!
2
6
10
A
3rd
9
6
8
7
8
4
5
3
4th
A
Q
4
Q
Q
J
3
5
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
3 1
4 1
4 2
4 3
5 3
J 7 2
K J 8 7
J 10 3
A J 2
Q
10 9 3
Q 9 8 6 5 4
K Q 6
Bidding
Play
Defense
Resp to 1 of a suit
Follow up major raise
Set up dummy’s suit
Choose lead at suit
Attack dummy’s entry
Play
A K 9 5 4 3
6 5 2
A K
4 3
3
South
8 top tricks
Lose 1 more trick
made 3 +140
WEST
1
2
North
Pass
Pass
East
1
4
South
Pass
All Pass
Board 4
A Q 10
6 2
10 9 8 3
J 9 4 2
Trick
1 S
2 N
3 W
4 N
5 S
Lead
2
2!
3
6!
5
2nd
K
3
Q
9
J
3rd
A
4!
6
A
2!
4th
4
7
5
8
10
W L
0 1
1 1
1 2
1 3
2 3
K 3
Q J 8 7
A K 5 2
10 8 3
9 7 6 4
K 10 9 3
7 4
A K Q
Bidding
Defense
Rebid by opener
Follow up major raise
Choose lead at suit
Shift to trumps
Play
J 8 5 2
A 5 4
Q J 6
7 6 5
4
East
8 top tricks
Lose 1 more trick
down 1 +100
Practice 4H09
Main
Top
Suit Leads & Strategy
Suit Leads & Strategy III
West
4
5
NORTH
1
4
Dbl
East
Pass
Pass
All Pass
South
2
Pass
Board 1
K Q 10 7 6
2
K J
A Q 7 3 2
Trick
1 N
2 S
3 N
4 S
5 N
Lead
K
4
2!
4!
A
2nd
2
5
9
7
10
3rd
A
!
Q
6
K
3
4th
4
6
8
2
K
W L
0 1
0 2
0 3
0 4
0 5
4
A K Q J 10 7 3
A 7
K 8 5
J 5 2
9 8
Q 10 5 2
J 10 9 6
Bidding
Defense
Competitive auction
Penalty double
Overtaking play
Try for a ruff
North must not cash
A
early to get diamond
Play
A 9 8 3
6 5 4
9 8 6 4 3
4
5
× West
8 top tricks
Win the rest
down 3 +500
West
Pass
Pass
North
2
4
EAST
Pass
Pass
All Pass
South
1 NT
2
Board 2
J 10 9 7
K 9
K J 10 6 4
Q 6
Trick
1 W
2 E
3 W
4 N
5 S
6 N
7 S
8 N
9 S
10 S
Lead
5
J!
10!
7
6
4
3
Q
10
J
2nd
K
6
J
2
4
5
8
K
7
3!
3rd
A
Q
!
2
K
10
A
K
A
6
6
4th
4
9
7
3!
3
2
7
2
4
5
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
7 2
8 2
A 5 4 3
Q 10 8 5 3
8 2
7 2
2
A J 2
9 7 5
K 9 8 5 4 3
Bidding
Play
Defense
Stayman convention
Rebid by responder
Force out high trump
Survive bad break
Force dummy to ruff
Duck to keep control
Play
K Q 8 6
7 6 4
A Q 3
A J 10
4
South
9 top tricks
Lose 2 more tricks
down 1 -100
West
1
3
North
1
Pass
East
2
4
SOUTH
Pass
Pass
All Pass
Board 3
A K J 6 5
3 2
J 10 8 6
Q 6
Trick
1 S
2 N
3 E
4 N
5 S
6 E
7 E
8 W
9 E
Lead
4
2!
3
3!
5!
K
3
7
K
2nd
10
7
7
8
J
4
5
6
10
3rd
J
4!
Q
A
5
2
A
9
9
4th
2
6
K
10
Q
6
Q
8
A!
W L
0 1
1 1
1 2
1 3
2 3
3 3
4 3
5 3
6 3
Q 10
J 10 6
A Q 9 5
A 9 7 2
8 3 2
K Q 9 8 7
K 4 3
K 3
Bidding
Play
Defense
Cope with overcall
Rebid after 2-over-1
Pseudo squeeze
Shift to trumps
Duck to retain entry
Play
9 7 4
A 5 4
7 2
J 10 8 5 4
4
East
9 top tricks
Lose the last trick
down 1 +100
WEST
Pass
Pass
North
1
4
East
Pass
All Pass
South
2
Board 4
K 9
A K Q 10 3
Q 5 4 2
K 8
Trick
1 E
2 W
3 S
4 N
5 N
6 N
7 N
8 E
9 N
10 E
11 N
Lead
4
J!
5
K
K
K
!
8
J!
4
6
5
2nd
3
2
2
7
6!
2
A
9
9
10
K
3rd
A
6
A
6
3
7
5
4
3
Q
8
4th
9
A
4
8
7!
5
2
Q
7
3
10
W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 1
5 2
6 2
6 3
7 3
7 4
A Q 10 5
8 2
J 10 7
9 7 4 2
J 8 6 4 2
J 7 4
K 9 6
A 6
Bidding
Play
Defense
Follow up major raise
Set up dummy’s suit
Attack dummy’s entry
Holdup play
Play
7 3
9 6 5
A 8 3
Q J 10 5 3
4
North
6 top tricks
Win the rest
down 1 -100
Practice 4H13
Main
Top
Suit Leads & Strategy
Suit Leads & Strategy IV
West
2
All Pass
NORTH
1
2
East
Dbl
3
South
1
3
Board 1
J 10 8
10 6
A Q J 8 3
K Q 9
Trick
1 W
2 E
3 N
4 E
5 W
6 E
7 W
Lead
Q
5!
J
7!
2!
5
6
2nd
6
4
A
!
3
3
7
8
3rd
K
!
9
2
J
5
A
6
4th
2
J
3
10
10
9
K
W L
0 1
1 1
1 2
1 3
1 4
1 5
1 6
4 3
Q J 9 4
9 7 6 2
A 4 2
A 6 5
A K 8 7
5
J 10 6 5 3
Bidding
Play
Defense
Resp to takeout double
Competitive auction
Deceptive play
Overtaking play
Try for a ruff
Play
K Q 9 7 2
5 3 2
K 10 4
8 7
3
South
9 top tricks
Win the rest
down 2 -100
West
1
2
1
4
North
Pass
Pass
All Pass
EAST
1
1 NT
2
South
Pass
Pass
Pass
Board 2
K 8 4 3
Q J 2
9 8 6 5 4
2
Trick
1 N
2 W
3 W
4 W
5 S
6 E
7 W
8 S
Lead
5
A
K
3
J!
Q
7
10!
2nd
2
2
J
2
5
3
6
6
3rd
10
3
5
K
4
K
4
3
4th
A
4
10
A
Q
4
J
A
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
3 1
4 1
5 1
5 2
6 2
9 6 5
A K 9 7 6
A K
9 7 3
A Q 2
8 5 3
Q 2
K Q 6 5 4
Note 1
Bidding
Play
Defense
new minor forcing
Opener’s third bid
Set up dummy’s suit
Choose lead at suit
Attack dummy’s entry
Play
J 10 7
10 4
J 10 7 3
A J 10 8
4
West
7 top tricks
Lose 2 more tricks
down 1 +50
West
Pass
Pass
North
1
4
East
Pass
All Pass
SOUTH
Pass
2
Board 3
A K Q J 10 8
Q 4 2
8 5
A 6
Trick
1 E
2 N
3 N
4 N
5 W
6 S
7 N
8 N
9 N
10 N
Lead
4!
K
Q
8
J!
4
J
10
8
5
2nd
3
2
6
4!
2
10
5
6
Q!
K
3rd
9
5
7
2
8!
A
3
6
3
A
4th
A
8
2
9
K
3
7
J
9
10
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
3 1
4 1
5 1
6 1
7 1
8 1
9 1
9
J 10 9
J 10 9
K J 10 8 7 2
6 4 2
A 8 7 6
K Q 4
9 5 3
Bidding
Play
Defense
Follow up major raise
Set up dummy’s suit
Duck to retain entry
Leading trumps
Attack dummy’s entry
Play
7 5 3
K 5 3
A 7 6 3 2
Q 4
4
North
8 top tricks
Lose the rest
down 1 -50
WEST
Pass
2
4
North
Pass
Pass
All Pass
East
1
3
South
Pass
Pass
Board 4
5 2
A K 9 2
10 9 6 3
Q 10 2
Trick
1 S
2 N
3 E
4 N
5 S
6 E
7 E
8 E
9 W
10 E
Lead
3
2!
6
5
4!
A
K
8
5
J
2nd
J
K
5
9
8
6
8
5
Q
J
3rd
K
3!
Q
A
2
3
4
Q
10
7
4th
4
6
A
7
Q
2
10
3
9
9
W L
0 1
1 1
1 2
1 3
2 3
3 3
4 3
5 3
6 3
7 3
8 7 6
Q J
A Q 7 4
7 5 4 3
K Q J 10 9
8 6 4
K 8 2
A K
Bidding
Play
Defense
Follow up major raise
Combine chances
Shift to trumps
When to win trump ace
Play
A 4 3
10 7 5 3
J 5
J 9 8 6
4
East
9 top tricks
Lose the last trick
down 1 +100
Practice 4H17
Main
Top
Suit Leads & Strategy
Suit Leads & Strategy V
West
Pass
NORTH
1
2
East
Pass
All Pass
South
1 NT
Board 1
A K J 10 4 2
10 5
J 2
K 10 3
Trick
1 E
2 W
3 S
4 E
5 S
6 E
7 W
Lead
2
10!
9
5
J?
8
8
2nd
3
2
3
8
Q!
4
J
3rd
J
7!
2
7
K
K
K
4th
5
Q
Q
4
A
10
A
W L
0 1
1 1
1 2
2 2
2 3
2 4
3 4
7 3
A K J
10 9 8 3
Q 9 7 5
Q 6 5
8 7 2
K 7 6 5
A 6 4
Bidding
Defense
Resp to 1 of a suit
Choose lead at suit
Attack dummy’s entry
Play
9 8
Q 9 6 4 3
A Q 4
J 8 2
2
North
6 top tricks
Lose 1 more trick
made 2 +110
West
2
3 NT
North
Pass
Pass
EAST
1 NT
2
4
South
Pass
Pass
All Pass
Board 2
A 7
10 9 8 7 2
K J 9
8 5 2
Trick
1 S
2 N
3 S
4 N
Lead
4!
J!
5
K
2nd
9
Q
4
8
3rd
A
A
9
6
4th
5
2
3
10
W L
0 1
0 2
0 3
0 4
Q J 9 8 6
K 6 3
10 4 2
K 4
K 10 5
A Q
Q 8 3
A Q 9 7 6
Bidding
Defense
Response to 1 NT
Rebid by NT bidder
Leading trumps
Entrapment play
Play
4 3 2
J 5 4
A 7 6 5
J 10 3
4
East
10 top tricks
Win the rest
down 1 +50
West
Dbl
Dbl
3
North
2
Pass
All Pass
East
Pass
3
SOUTH
1
Pass
Pass
Board 3
10 7 6 5
K J 4
J 6
J 10 4 2
Trick
1 N
2 S
3 W
4 S
5 W
6 W
7 E
8 S
9 N
Lead
4
3!
J!
2!
A
4
3
7
10!
2nd
2
A
7
K
5
6
A
!
9
5
3rd
A
6
2
J
8
9
Q
J
10
4th
3
5
K
7
3
9
4
5
Q
W L
0 1
1 1
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
4 3
4 4
4 5
A Q J 4
9 3
A K Q 8 4
K Q
8 2
10 5 2
9 7 5
9 8 6 5 3
Bidding
Play
Defense
Choose defensive action
Rebid by doubler
Ruff in short hand
Shift to trumps
Fight declarer’s plan
Play
K 9 3
A Q 8 7 6
10 3 2
A 7
3
West
6 top tricks
Win the rest
down 1 +100
WEST
2
All Pass
North
Pass
East
4
South
4
Board 4
Q 8 3
J 6
Q 10 9 6 5 3
K 4
Trick
1 W
2 E
3 W
4 E
5 W
Lead
10
4!
8!
3!
2
2nd
6
7
5
7
6
3rd
K
A
7
Q
6
4th
5
3
J
J
K
W L
0 1
0 2
0 3
0 4
0 5
2
Q 10 9 8 4 2
A 8 2
J 10 3
9 7 6
A K 3
4
Q 9 8 7 6 2
Bidding
Defense
Resp to weak two-bid
Combat weak two-bid
Try for a ruff
Underlead to partner
Play
A K J 10 5 4
7 5
K J 7
A 5
4
South
8 top tricks
Claim the rest
down 2 -200
Practice 4H17
Main
Top
Suit Leads & Strategy
© 1990 Richard Pavlicek