West	North	East	South	1. N deals	A 10 7 6 5		TT=4	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	1	Pass	2	None vul	Q 9 2		1. N	Q	4	7	2
Pass	Pass	Dbl!	Pass		Q J 9		2. N	9	A	3	5
3	AP				A 7		3. E	4	3	Q	A
				Q J 2		9 4	4. N	J	8	K	6
10 11	13 14	9 10	8 8	A 8 7 6		K 10 5 4	5. W	3	7	Q	6
				5 2		A 8 4	6. E	9	K	2	5
				K 8 5 3		Q 9 4 2	7. S	J	5!	A	2
Bidding	Balancing double				K 8 3		8. N	6	4	8	J
	Down 1 is good result				J 3		9. W	A	2	4	3
	(N-S make 2 )				K 10 7 6 3		10. W	7	9	K!	J
Play	Placing enemy cards				J 10 6			Lose 1 trump trick
	Finessing technique			3 West		Down 1 -50

West	North	East	South	2. E deals	6 4 3		TT=7	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
		1	Pass	N-S vul	K J 5		1. E	K	2	8	3
Pass	1 NT!	Pass	2 NT		A 8 2		2. E	A	J	5	4
Pass	Pass	Pass			Q J 9 5		3. E	10	4	7	6
				Q 8 7 5		A K 10 9	4. E	9	4	Q	2
3 5	11 11	14 15	12 12	2		Q 10 9 8 3	5. W	J	A!	Q	5
				J 10 9 3		K Q	6. N	5	4	K	2
				10 7 6 2		8 4	7. S	A	6	9	8
					J 2		8. S	6!	3	8	K
Bidding	Balancing bid				A 7 6 4			East is endplayed
	Response to 1 NT				7 6 5 4
Play	Count hand pattern				A K 3
	Throw-in play			2 NT North		Made 2 +120

West	North	East	South	3. S deals	10 4 3		TT=8	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
			1	E-W vul	5		1. S	Q	2	9	10!
Pass	Pass	Dbl!	Pass		9 7 5		2. S	J	5	3	A
1	2	2	Pass		K 9 8 7 6 3		3. E	A!	9	2	3
4	AP			8 7 6 5 2		A Q	4. E	Q	K	5	4
				A K J		Q 9 8 6 3 2	5. S	4	A	5	2
8 9	3 5	15 17	14 14	10 6 3		K 4 2	6. W	6	10	Q	J
				5 2		A 10	7. E	3	7	K	6
					K J 9		8. W	J	7	6	10
Bidding	Balancing double				10 7 4		9. W	8	5	2	8
	Rebid by doubler				A Q J 8			Lose 1 more trick
Play	Placing enemy cards				Q J 4
	Holdup play			4 East		Made 4 +620

West	North	East	South	4. W deals	A Q 7 4 3		TT=6	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
1	Pass	Pass	2 !	Both vul	J 10 7		1. W	Q	A	9	3
Pass	3	Pass	Pass		A 5 2		2. N	2	K	4	10
Pass					8 5		3. E	7	9	J	5
				K 10 9 8 6		J 2	4. W	J	5	8	6
16 16	11 12	4 4	9 11	K		6 5 3 2	5. W	A	8	2	10
				Q J 10		K 9 8	6. W	10	A	2	5
				A Q J 3		7 6 4 2	7. N	J	2	A!	K
					5			Win the rest
Bidding	Balancing bid				A Q 9 8 4
	Resp to suit overcall				7 6 4 3
Play	Placing enemy cards				K 10 9
Defense	Attitude signal			3 South		Made 3 +140

Practice 5E05 Main

Balancing Bids & Doubles II

Top by Richard Pavlicek

West	North	East	South	1. N deals	A 4 3		TT=5	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	Pass	1	Pass	None vul	K 9 8 3		1. E	K	5	7	3
2	Pass	Pass	2 NT!		5 4 3		2. E	6	10	J	A
Pass	3	AP			Q 7 4		3. N	3!	6	K	7
				J 9 7		K Q 8 6 2	4. S	2	J	4	10
8 8	9 9	14 15	9 10	A 10 6 2		Q 7 5	5. W	2!	K!	5	4
				Q J 7		A 10 6	6. N	4	2	J	3
				10 8 3		K 2	7. S	8	Q	5	A
					10 5		8. E	Q	J	6	3
Bidding	Balancing bid				J 4		9. E	Q	5	9	4
	Unusual notrump bid				K 9 8 2		10. S	A	8	7	K
Play	Placing enemy cards				A J 9 6 5			Draw trump and claim
Defense	Try to fool declarer			3 North		Made 3 +110

West	North	East	South	2. E deals	Q 8 3		TT=4	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
		Pass	1	N-S vul	Q 6 3		1. N	3	K	A	2
Pass	2	Pass	Pass		J 10 7 3		2. S	10!	5!	3	K
2 !	AP				K 10 7		3. E	5	2	A	3
				A J 6 5		K 4 2	4. W	5	6	2	4
9 10	8 8	10 10	13 15	9 8 5 2		K	5. E	K	9	4	7
				A 4		K 8 6 5	6. E	6	Q	6	J
Bidding	Balancing bid			8 6 3		J 9 5 4 2	7. W	8	Q	4	7
	West’s four hearts make				10 9 7		8. E	8	9	J	10
	spade fit very likely				A J 10 7 4			Win 1 more trick
Play	Seven-card trump fit				Q 9 2
	Crossruff				A Q
Defense	Shift to trumps			2 West		Made 2 +110

West	North	East	South	3. S deals	10 7 6 5		TT=5	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
			1	E-W vul	K 6 4		1. S	K	2	7	3
Pass	Pass	1 NT!	Pass		9 8 2		2. S	Q	4	5	9
2 NT	AP				10 4 2		3. S	J	A	6	8
				A 8 4 2		9 3	4. W	Q	4	5	A
12 12	3 3	11 12	14 14	Q J 9		10 8 7 5	5. S	3!	J	K	7
				A 5 4		K J 7	6. N	10	9	2	8
				J 7 6		A K 9 8	7. N	9	K!	3	4
Bidding	Balancing bid				K Q J		8. E	10	6	9	6
	Resp to 1 NT overcall				A 3 2		9. E	A	3	6	2
Play	Positional squeeze				Q 10 6 3		10. E	K	5	7	4
Defense	Attitude signal				Q 5 3		11. E	8	?
	Avoid endplay			2 NT East		Made 2 +120		South is squeezed

West	North	East	South	4. W deals	Q 2		TT=6	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
1	Pass	Pass	Dbl!	Both vul	6 4 3		1. W	K	3	2	8
Pass	2	Pass	2 NT		A J 8 6 5		2. W	J	4	5	A!
Pass	3 NT	AP			K 9 8		3. S	Q!	K	A	3
				K J 8		10 9 7 6	4. N	8	3	A	2
13 14	10 10	1 3	16 17	K Q J 9 7		5 2	5. S	9	2	5	7
				K 10 2		7 3	6. S	4	10	J	5
				10 2		J 7 6 5 3	7. N	8	6	3	8
Bidding	Balancing double				A 5 4 3		8. N	6	7	4	10
	Rebid by doubler				A 10 8		9. N	9	J	Q	7
Play	Avoidance finesse				Q 9 4		10. S	4	9	K	6
	Squeeze throw-in				A Q 4		11. N	6!	7	10	Q
Defense	When to cover honor			3 NT South		Made 5 +660		West is endplayed

Practice 5E09 Main

Balancing Bids & Doubles III

Top by Richard Pavlicek

West	North	East	South	1. N deals	A 8 3		TT=5	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	1	Pass	2	None vul	A Q 7 6 5		1. N	5	7	8	9
Pass	Pass	Dbl!	Pass		6 5		2. W	6	5	J	A
3	AP				K 7 5		3. S	2	3	6	10
				K 6		Q 10 5 4	4. E	2	3	10	K
9 10	13 14	9 10	9 9	J 10 8		4 2	5. N	A	2	9	8
				K Q 9 4 3		A 10 7	6. N	6	4	K	10
Bidding	Balancing double			10 8 6		Q J 4 2	7. S	J	4	5	A
	Down 1 is good result				J 9 7 2		8. E	Q	9	8	7
	(N-S make 2 )				K 9 3		9. E	4	2	J	3
Play	Delay drawing trumps				J 8 2			Lose 1 more trick
	Set up dummy’s suit				A 9 3
Defense	Leading trumps			3 West		Down 1 -50

West	North	East	South	2. E deals	A 8		TT=7	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
		1	Pass	N-S vul	K 10 7 6		1. E	3	8	2	6
Pass	1 NT	Pass	2		K 4 2		2. S	Q	3	A	10
Pass	2	Pass	3		A 8 6 2		3. N	2	J	9	4
Pass	4	AP		J 7 5 2		Q 10 4	4. S	3	2	A	4
				4 2		J 5 3	5. N	6	K	A	5
2 3	14 15	13 14	11 11	J 7		A Q 10 9	6. S	K	5	8	10
				9 7 5 4 3		K J 10	7. S	6	7	7	Q
Bidding	Balancing bid				K 9 6 3		8. N	8	10	Q	7
	Stayman convention				A Q 9 8		9. S	9	J	K!	9
Play	Crossruff				8 6 5 3		10. N	10!	J	3	4
	Throw-in play				Q			E endplayed (lose 2)
Defense	Leading trumps			4 North		Made 4 +620

West	North	East	South	3. S deals	Q 9 2		TT=7	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
			1	E-W vul	9 8 2		1. S	7	3	Q	K
Pass	Pass	Dbl!	Pass		7 6 5		2. E	3!	7	Q	5
2	Pass	2 NT	Pass		J 10 6 5		3. W	9	10	K	6
3 NT	AP			6 3		K 10 4	4. E	J	4	Q	5
				5 4		Q J 10 3	5. W	8	6	4	5
8 10	3 3	17 17	12 15	A Q 10 2		K J	6. W	2	J	A	8
				Q 9 8 7 2		A K 4 3	7. E	K	3	A	6
Bidding	Balancing double				A J 8 7 5		8. W	7	7	3	J
	Rebid by doubler				A K 7 6		9. W	10	2	10	8
Play	Finessing technique				9 8 4 3			Lose the rest
	Overtaking play				—
Defense	Protect dummy’s suit			3 NT East		Made 3 +600

West	North	East	South	4. W deals	7 5 3		TT=6	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
1	Pass	2	Pass	Both vul	A 2		1. W	K	3	10	2
Pass	2 NT!	Pass	3		A 10 3 2		2. W	J	5	A	4
Pass	Pass	Pass			K 9 4 2		3. E	8	3	6	7
				K Q J 9 6		A 10 8	4. S	5	7	K	10
13 13	11 12	8 8	8 9	10 9 3		J 8 7 5	5. N	2	J	6	Q
				J 6		Q 8 7 4	6. W	A	4	4	8
				A Q 7		J 10	7. W	10	A	5	4
					4 2		8. N	9!	?
					K Q 6 4			East is squeezed
Bidding	Balancing bid				K 9 5
	Unusual notrump bid				8 6 5 3
Play	Positional squeeze			3 South		Made 3 +110

Practice 5E13 Main

Balancing Bids & Doubles IV

Top by Richard Pavlicek

West	North	East	South	1. N deals	A Q 10		TT=6	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	1	Pass	2	None vul	A Q 10 6 4		1. N	9	2	8	K
Pass	Pass	Dbl	Pass		J 9 4		2. W	2	Q	3	8
2	AP				9 5		3. N	5	A	6	3
				9 7 6 2		J 5 4 3	4. E	K	2	5	4
10 11	13 15	10 10	7 8	K 2		9 7 5	5. E	Q	8	6	9
				A 7 6 5		K Q 3	6. E	3	10	A	J
Bidding	Competitive auction			K 4 3		A 10 2	7. W	7!	4	10	K
	Reopening double				K 8		8. S	3	K	A	5
Play	Draw trumps early				J 8 3		9. N	Q	7	8	2
	Obtain early discard				10 8 2		10. N	10	9	J	6
Defense	Choose lead at suit				Q J 8 7 6		11. W	7	A	4	7
	Attitude signal			2 West		Made 2 +110		Win the rest

West	North	East	South	2. E deals	A 2		TT=9	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
		1	Pass	N-S vul	K Q J 9 8		1. E	K	2	4	3
Pass	Dbl	Pass	1		Q 3		2. E	A	6	5	Q
Pass	2	Pass	4		K 9 7 4		3. E	9	7	J	8
AP				10 7 5 4 3		J 9	4. N	4	5	A	2
				2		A 5 4 3	5. S	3	6	K	10
2 4	15 16	14 15	9 10	J 5 4		A K 10 9	6. N	7	Q	6	8
				J 8 6 2		Q 10 5	7. S	7	2	K	3!
					K Q 8 6		8. N	2	9	K	3
Bidding	Balancing double				10 7 6		9. S	6	4	A	J
	Rebid by doubler				8 7 6 2		10. N	9	10	10	J
Play	Ruff in short hand				A 3			Concede high trump
Defense	When to win trump ace			4 North		Made 4 +620

West	North	East	South	3. S deals	K 10 6		TT=6	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
			1	E-W vul	Q 9 8 7		1. S	J	2	9	A
Pass	2	Pass	Pass		4 2		2. E	K	10	3	7
2 NT!	Pass	3	AP		Q 9 5 3		3. E	4	5	J	8
				7 4 2		Q 3	4. W	A	5	4	6
10 11	7 8	10 10	13 13	3 2		A K 6 5 4	5. W	2	3	J	K
				K Q J 7		10 9 8 6	6. S	A	Q!	2	6
				A 10 8 2		J 4	7. S	3	7	4	8
Bidding	Competitive auction				A J 9 8 5		8. E	5	7	K	Q
	Unusual notrump bid				J 10		9. W	8	9	9	8
Play	Establish side suit				A 5 3		10. E	10	5	2	6
	Unblocking play				K 7 6		11. E	6
Defense	Shift to trumps			3 East		Made 3 +110		Lose last 2 tricks

West	North	East	South	4. W deals	K 4 3		TT=6	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
1	Pass	Pass	1 NT	Both vul	10 9 6		1. W	K	6	8	2
Pass	2 NT	Pass	Pass		K 9 2		2. W	A	9	5	3
Pass					A J 9 6		3. W	J	10	Q!	4
				Q 10 9 6 5		7	4. E	7	3	5	2
14 14	11 11	3 5	12 12	A K J		Q 8 7 5	5. E	J	A	4	9
				Q 6 4		J 10 8 5	6. S	K	3	6	4
Bidding	Balancing bid			Q 3		10 8 7 4	7. S	2	Q	A	7
	Resp to 1 NT overcall				A J 8 2		8. N	J	8	5	6
Play	Finessing technique				4 3 2		9. N	K	7	2	6
	Throw-in play				A 7 3		10. N	K!	5	7	Q
Defense	Choose lead at notrump				K 5 2		11. N	3	8	8!	9
	Attitude signal			2 NT South		Made 2 +120		West is endplayed

Practice 5E17 Main

Balancing Bids & Doubles V

Top by Richard Pavlicek

West	North	East	South	1. N deals	K Q 10 7 6		TT=6	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	1	Pass	2	None vul	K 7 6		1. S	3	J!	Q	2
Pass	Pass	3 !	Pass		A 5 2		2. N	2!	9	K	4
Pass	Pass				Q 6		3. S	3	6	A	10
				A J		8 4 2	4. N	5	7	5	8
10 11	14 14	8 9	8 9	J 8 5 3		A 4	5. W	3	6	7	10
				8 6 4		Q J 10 9 7	6. S	9	A	6	4
				A 9 8 3		J 7 4	7. W	8	Q	J!	2
					9 5 3		8. N	K	8	2	3
Bidding	Balancing bid				Q 10 9 2		9. N	6	A	9	5
Play	Holdup play				K 3		10. E	Q	10	8	7
	Unblocking play				K 10 5 2		11. E	J	Q	J	7
Defense	Shift to trumps			3 East		Down 2 -100	12. E	4	5	9!	10

West	North	East	South	2. E deals	A 6 4		TT=5	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
		1	Pass	N-S vul	A K 5 3		1. E	6	J	2	K!
Pass	2 NT	Pass	Pass		K J		2. N	K	A	4	3
Pass					A 10 3 2		3. E	K	3	7	A!
				J 9 7 5		K Q 2	4. N	J	4	6	5
2 5	19 20	16 18	3 4	—		Q 8 7 6 4	5. N	3	Q	2	7
				9 8 7 5 3 2		A	6. E	Q	8	5	4
				J 5 4		K Q 8 7	7. E	2	10	J	6
					10 8 3		8. W	9	2	7	6
Bidding	Balancing bid				J 10 9 2			Win the rest
Play	Preserve entry				Q 10 6 4
	Shun holdup play				9 6
Defense	Attitude signal			2 NT North		Made 2 +120

West	North	East	South	3. S deals	10 9 8 7		TT=7	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
			1	E-W vul	8 6 2		1. N	10	2	6	K
Pass	Pass	Dbl	Pass		Q 10 2		2. W	A	2	5	4
2 !	AP				Q 10 5		3. W	3	10	7	9
				K J 4 3		A Q 5 2	4. N	9	A	3	3
12 13	4 4	10 11	14 16	A 4		K J 7 3	5. E	3	10	A	2
				A 8 6 3		7 5	6. W	4	6	K	5
				9 4 2		8 7 6	7. E	7	9	4	8
Bidding	Balancing double				6		8. W	6	Q	5	J
	Resp to takeout double				Q 10 9 5		9. E	J	Q	J	5
Play	Crossruff				K J 9 4			Win the high trump
	Timing the play				A K J 3
Defense	Leading trumps			2 West		Made 3 +140

West	North	East	South	4. W deals	Q 5		TT=9	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
1	Pass	Pass	2 !	Both vul	A 8 5 3		1. W	K	A	6	4
Pass	4	Pass	Pass		J 8 2		2. N	2!	9	3	7
Pass					K 9 7 4		3. E	7	3	2	3
				6		10 8 4 2	4. S	4	Q	8	10
15 17	10 10	3 3	12 15	K Q J 9 2		10 7 6	5. W	Q	5	10	7
				A Q 7		K 10 9	6. S	5	A	J	K
				Q J 10 6		8 5 3	7. W	J	8	3	9
Bidding	Balancing bid				A K J 9 7 3		8. S	A	6	5	2
	Good jump overcall				4		9. S	2	10	K	5
Play	Delay drawing trumps				6 5 4 3		10. N	4	8	A	6
	Establish side suit				A 2		11. S	6	9	Q	4
Defense	Make declarer ruff			4 South		Made 4 +620		Claim the rest

Practice 5E01-5E17 Main

Top 20 Practice Deals

© 1994 Richard Pavlicek