West	North	East	South	1. N deals	8		TT=7	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	3	Dbl	Pass	None vul	A K 7 6 5 3 2		1. N	K	8	Q	4
4 !	Pass	Pass	Pass		7 2		2. N	A	9	6	10
					10 8 2		3. N	5	K!	4	J
9 11	7 10	14 15	10 10	A 10 9 6 5		K J 7 2	4. E	J!	3	5	8
				J 10 4		9 8	5. E	2	4	9	2
				4 3		A Q 9 5	6. W	A	3	7	Q
				A 5 3		K J 6	7. W	3	2	9!	10
Bidding	Combat preempt				Q 4 3			South is endplayed
	Resp to takeout double				Q
Play	Avert overruff				K J 10 8 6
	Throw-in play				Q 9 7 4
Defense	Try for an overruff			4 West		Made 4 +420

West	North	East	South	2. E deals	Q		TT=9	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
		2	2 !	N-S vul	A 8 7 6 4 3		1. E	K	3	J	A
Pass	3	Pass	4		A 9 6		2. N	3	2	K	2
Pass	Pass	Pass			Q 4 3		3. S	A!	4	Q	5
				K 6 4		9 7 5	4. S	J!	6	6!	7
6 6	12 12	8 11	14 15	J 10 9 5 2		—	5. S	2	K	4	9
				J 8		K Q 10 7 5 2	6. N	6	5	Q	5
				J 10 8		K 9 7 5	7. S	10	9	9	7
Bidding	Combat weak two-bid				A J 10 8 3 2		8. W	J!	Q	K	A
	Resp to suit overcall				K Q		9. S	8	10	3	5
Play	Ruffing finesse				4 3			Lose 1 more trick
	Survive bad break				A 6 2
Defense	Attack dummy’s entry			4 North		Made 4 +620

West	North	East	South	3. S deals	4 2		TT=10	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
			Pass	E-W vul	4 3		1. S	K	4	A!	2
Pass	3	3	Pass		J 10 4		2. N	Q	J	2	5
4 !	AP				A Q 10 9 8 3		3. N	9	10	J	6
				K 7		A Q 10 8 6 5	4. S	J	5	3	A
10 11	7 9	15 16	8 8	K 7 6 5		A Q	5. E	5	3	K	2
				A 3 2		Q 6 5	6. W	7	4	A	9
				7 6 5 4		J 2	7. E	Q	7	2	3
Bidding	Combat preempt				J 9 3		8. E	8	8	7	8
	Resp to suit overcall				J 10 9 8 2		9. E	Q	8	6	4
Play	Positional squeeze				K 9 8 7		10. E	6!	?
Defense	Overtaking play				K			South is squeezed
	Trump promotion			4 East		Made 4 +620

West	North	East	South	4. W deals	A Q 2		TT=6	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
2	Dbl	Pass	2	Both vul	Q 4		1. W	J	4!	2	3!
Pass	3 !	Pass	3 NT		A K 3		2. W	Q!	K	8	2
Pass	Pass	Pass			A J 10 9 8		3. N	A	7	5	3
				4 3		J 10 9 7	4. N	Q	9	6	4
8 10	20 21	4 5	8 8	A J 10 9 7 6		5 2	5. N	2	10	K	6
				Q J 9		10 8 7	6. S	Q	3	8	K
				4 3		K 7 6 2	7. E	J	8	4	3
					K 8 6 5			Lose 1 more trick
Bidding	Combat weak two-bid				K 8 3
	Rebid by doubler				6 5 4 2
Play	Holdup play				Q 5
Defense	Shift to another suit			3 NT South		Made 3 +600

Practice 5F05 Main

Combating Weak Openings II

Top by Richard Pavlicek

West	North	East	South	1. N deals	3 2		TT=8	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	3	Dbl	Pass	None vul	6 5 2		1. N	K	4	9	7
4 !	Pass	Pass	Pass		5		2. N	A	J	Q	10
					A K 8 6 5 3 2		3. N	5	2	9	K
11 12	7 10	15 15	7 7	Q 5 4		A K 8 6	4. W	Q	2	10	3
				A Q 9 8		K 10 4	5. W	8	5	K	7
				K 8 4 3		A 7 6 2	6. E	4	J	A	6
				10 7		J 4	7. W	3	2	6!	10
Bidding	Combat preempt				J 10 9 7		8. S	J	4	2	K
	Resp to takeout double				J 7 3		9. E	A!	J	4	3
Play	Ducking play				Q J 10 9		10. E	6	7	Q	3
	Automatic squeeze				Q 9		11. W	9!	5	7	?
Defense	Try for a ruff			4 West		Made 4 +420		South is squeezed

West	North	East	South	2. E deals	6 3 2		TT=7	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
		2	Dbl	N-S vul	4 3		1. W	7	2	9!	4!
Pass	3	Pass	3 NT!		K 10 9 5 4		2. E	2!	K	8	3
Pass	Pass	Pass			J 9 3		3. S	Q	A	4	3
				7 5		A Q J 10 9	4. W	7	4	J	5!
7 8	4 5	8 9	21 21	Q 10 8 7		J 6 2	5. E	6	A	10	5
				A J 7 2		8 6 3	6. S	5	2	9	4
Bidding	Combat weak two-bid			8 6 2		7 4	7. N	3!	A	8	5
	Rebid by doubler				K 8 4		8. E	Q	K	6	6
Play	Holdup play				A K 9 5		9. S	10	8	J	7
	Communication/entries				Q		10. N	K	6	9	2
Defense	Duck to retain entry				A K Q 10 5			Win the rest
	Shift to another suit			3 NT South		Made 3 +600

West	North	East	South	3. S deals	K 8		TT=9	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
			2	E-W vul	6 2		1. S	3	K	4	7
3 !	Pass	3	Pass		Q 10 9 4 2		2. W	5!	10	9	7
4	AP				J 10 9 5		3. E	5	4	K	2
				9 2		J 10 4	4. W	6	9	10	3
16 17	6 8	9 11	9 11	K J		A Q 10 9 7 5	5. E	7	3	J	6
				A K J 8 6 5		7	6. W	8	Q	Q	5
				A 4 3		Q 7 6	7. E	A	8	2	2
Bidding	Combat weak two-bid				A Q 7 6 5 3		8. E	6	2	A	5
	Resp to suit overcall				8 4 3			Cash 2 more winners
Play	Read enemy lead				3
	Set up dummy’s suit				K 8 2
Defense	Try for a ruff			4 East		Made 4 +620

West	North	East	South	4. W deals	K Q J 10 2		TT=10	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
3	3 !	Pass	4	Both vul	A J 5		1. E	3	A	J	Q
Pass	4 NT	Pass	5		Q		2. S	3	4	K	9
Pass	5 NT	Pass	6		K 8 7 6		3. N	2	10	A	5
Pass	6	AP		7 6 5 4		9	4. S	8	6	Q	4
				Q		K 10 9 8 7 4	5. N	J	4	2	7
6 8	16 16	4 6	14 15	K J 10 9 8 7 2		6 4 3	6. N	K	2	3	10
				10		J 9 2	7. N	6	9	Q	2
					A 8 3		8. S	5!	K	7!	6
Bidding	Combat preempt				6 3 2			Win the rest
	Cue-bid to show fit				A 5
Play	Communication/entries				A Q 5 4 3
	Jettison play			6 North		Made 6 +1430

Practice 5F09 Main

Combating Weak Openings III

Top by Richard Pavlicek

West	North	East	South	1. N deals	4 2		TT=7	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	2	2	Pass	None vul	10 9 2		1. N	10?	K!	8	3
3 NT!	Pass	Pass	Pass		A Q J 8 7 3		2. E	8	5	3!	2
					Q 4		3. E	2	9	J!	Q
12 12	9 10	14 15	5 6	Q 3		A K 10 9 8	4. N	9	5	6	Q
				Q 4 3		A K 5	5. W	Q	4	9	6
				K 9 5		6 4	6. W	A	4	3	10
				A J 7 6 5		8 3 2	7. W	4	2	A	7
Bidding	Combat weak two-bid				J 7 6 5		8. E	A	7	5	3
	Resp to suit overcall				J 8 7 6		9. E	K	J	6	7
Play	Avoidance finesse				10 2		10. E	10	J	7	8
	Throw-in play				K 10 9		11. E	4	10	5	J
	North squeezed in 1 suit			3 NT West		Made 4 +430		N endplayed (lose 1)

West	North	East	South	2. E deals	A K Q		TT=8	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
		2	Pass	N-S vul	8 3		1. W	2	3	K	9
3	Dbl	Pass	3		A 6 5 3		2. E	A	Q	7	8
Pass	4 !	AP			A K J 3		3. E	4	3	8	Q
				10 8		9 4 2	4. N	A	2	5	10
4 5	21 22	9 10	6 6	J 7 2		A K 10 6 5 4	5. N	K	9	6	J
				K 9 8 2		10 7	6. N	3!	7	Q	K
				10 9 7 4		Q 2	7. W	2	A!	10	4
					J 7 6 5 3		8. N	A	2	5	4
Bidding	Combat weak two-bid				Q 9		9. N	5	4	J	8
	Rebid by doubler				Q J 4		10. S	J	7	3	5
Play	Lead toward honor				8 6 5		11. S	7!	9	6	6
	Show-up finesse			4 South		Made 4 +620	12. S	6	10	K!	Q

West	North	East	South	3. S deals	A 9 7 5		TT=9	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
			3	E-W vul	K		1. S	Q	3	K	A
Dbl	Pass	4 !	Pass		K Q J 9		2. E	Q!	2	3	5
Pass	Pass				8 6 5 2		3. E	J	4	4	7
				K 6 4 3		Q J 10 8	4. E	2!	5	K!	2
12 14	13 13	12 13	3 6	3		A 7 6 2	5. W	6	A	8	8
				A 8 5 3		7 6 2	6. N	K	2	4	A
				K Q 10 7		A J	7. W	7	5	A	3
Bidding	Combat preempt				2		8. E	10	9	3	9
	Resp to takeout double				Q J 10 9 8 5 4		9. E	J	4	Q	6
Play	Trump management				10 4			Cash 2 more winners
	Avert overruff				9 4 3
Defense	Duck to keep control			4 East		Made 4 +620

West	North	East	South	4. W deals	Q J 5 4		TT=5	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
Pass	Pass	2	Dbl	Both vul	Q 10 2		1. E	7	J	3	Q!
Pass	2	Pass	3		9 7 6 5		2. N	5	2	J	8
Pass	3 NT!	AP			Q 8		3. S	A	7	4	3
				10 9 8 7		6 3	4. S	K	8	5	6
4 5	7 7	10 12	19 20	9 6 3		A K 8 7 5 4	5. S	2	9	Q	4
				10 8		K 3 2	6. N	J	4	7	10
				A 5 3 2		6 4	7. N	6	3	Q	10
					A K 2			Cash 2 more winners
Bidding	Combat weak two-bid				J
	Resp to takeout double				A Q J 4
Play	Play for only chance				K J 10 9 7
	Overtaking play			3 NT North		Made 3 +600

Practice 5F13 Main

Combating Weak Openings IV

Top by Richard Pavlicek

West	North	East	South	1. N deals	6 5		TT=7	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	3	Dbl!	Pass	None vul	10		1. N	K	3	6	A
4	Pass	Pass	Pass		K 8 2		2. W	2	10	A	6
					K Q 10 8 7 5 4		3. E	3!	5	9!	K
10 10	8 11	13 15	9 9	K 4 2		A J 9 7 3	4. N	6!	9	10	K
				J 9 4 3 2		A K 7 5	5. W	Q!	2	4	A
				Q 9		J 4 3	6. S	J	2	4	5
				A 9 2		3	7. E	K	8	3	5
Bidding	Combat preempt				Q 10 8		8. E	J	6	2	8
	Resp to takeout double				Q 8 6		9. E	A	8	4	5
Play	Pursue extra chance				A 10 7 6 5		10. E	3	Q	4	7
	Delay drawing trumps				J 6		11. W	9	10	7	Q
Defense	Shift to another suit			4 West		Made 4 +420		Claim the rest

West	North	East	South	2. E deals	A K 8 7 5 3		TT=5	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
		2	3	N-S vul	Q 5 4		1. W	7	4	10	9!
Pass	3	Pass	3 NT!		9 8 3		2. E	10!	3	7	K
Pass	Pass	Pass			K		3. N	9	5	6	2!
				J 10 9		Q 6 2	4. N	3	2	10!	K
6 7	12 12	7 9	15 18	7 6		A J 10 8 3 2	5. W	J!	K	6	4
				K 4 2		5	6. N	A	2	4	9
Bidding	Combat weak two-bid			Q 7 6 5 2		10 9 8	7. N	8	3	J	4
	Resp to suit overcall				4			Cash 4 more winners
Play	Holdup play				K 9
	Duck to retain entry				A Q J 10 7 6
Defense	Shift to another suit				A J 4 3
	Holdup play			3 NT South		Made 3 +600

West	North	East	South	3. S deals	J 7		TT=6	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
			4	E-W vul	8 5 4 2		1. S	K	K!	7	4
4 NT!	Pass	5	Pass		A 9 6 5 4		2. W	6	2	Q	3
Pass	Pass				K J		3. E	9!	10	A!	J
				—		A 9 4	4. W	7	4	J	2
16 19	9 9	8 9	7 12	A K 7 6		Q J 10 9	5. E	10	3	2	5
				K Q 8 7		J 10 3 2	6. E	9	5	3	8
				A 7 4 3 2		9 6	7. E	2	6	Q	4
					K Q 10 8 6 5 3 2		8. W	K	A	3	8
Bidding	Combat preempt				3		9. N	5	J	Q	7
	Unusual notrump bid				—			Lose 1 more trick
Play	Retain suit control				Q 10 8 5
	Ruffing with 4-4 fit			5 East		Made 5 +650

West	North	East	South	4. W deals	Q 3		TT=6	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
2	2 NT!	Pass	3	Both vul	K 8 6 4		1. E	2	4	A	6
Pass	3	Pass	4		K J 6		2. W	9	J	7	5
Pass	Pass	Pass			A K J 7		3. E	Q	A!	2	4
				J 7		K 9 8 6	4. S	4!	6	A	3
7 9	17 17	8 10	8 10	2		Q J 10 7	5. N	7!	2	3	5
				A Q 10 9 8 3		2	6. S	5	3	K	10
				10 8 6 5		Q 9 3 2	7. N	K	9	2	8
Bidding	Combat weak two-bid				A 10 5 4 2		8. N	J	Q	9	10
	Stayman convention				A 9 5 3		9. S	7	8	K	6
Play	Elimination technique				7 5 4		10. N	6!	J	4	10
	Throw-in play				4			South is endplayed
Defense	Suit preference signal			4 North		Made 4 +620

Practice 5F17 Main

Combating Weak Openings V

Top by Richard Pavlicek

West	North	East	South	1. N deals	K 9 5 2		TT=7	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	Pass	4	Dbl	None vul	5 4		1. S	K	2	3	8!
Pass	Pass!	Pass			J 9 3		2. S	2!	3	4	6
					A 7 6 2		3. E	4	3	9	A
6 6	8 9	10 13	16 17	J 10 7 6		3	4. N	5!	A	9	Q
				Q 3		A K J 10 8 7 6	5. E	5	K	10	2
				10 7 2		Q 8 4	6. S	A!	6	9	3
				Q J 10 9		5 4	7. S	4	10	K	7
Bidding	Combat preempt				A Q 8 4			Lose 2 more tricks
	Optional double				9 2
Play	Deceptive play				A K 6 5
Defense	Attitude signal				K 8 3
	Attack dummy’s entry			4 × East		Down 3 -500

West	North	East	South	2. E deals	A Q 6		TT=6	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
		Pass	Pass	N-S vul	A 3		1. E	10	3	J!	6!
2	2 NT	Pass	3 NT		Q 8 2		2. W	8	Q	2	7
Pass	Pass	Pass			A J 7 6 3		3. N	2	K?	3	7
				K J 9 8 5 4		10 2	4. E	6	J	2	3
8 10	17 18	7 9	8 10	10 8 2		Q 9 7 6 4	5. S	4	A	Q	5
				A 7		K 5		Win the rest
				8 4		Q 10 9 5
					7 3
					K J 5
Bidding	Combat weak two-bid				J 10 9 6 4 3
Play	Holdup play				K 2
Defense	Overtaking play			3 NT North		Made 4 +630

West	North	East	South	3. S deals	K Q 7 4		TT=6	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
			3	E-W vul	9		1. W	J	Q	A	2
Pass	5	Dbl!	Pass		J 8 5 2		2. E	A!	Q!	10!	3
Pass	Pass				J 6 5 3		3. E	K	5	3	9
				J 10 9		A 8 6 5 3	4. E	8	2	K	5
8 8	7 9	18 19	7 9	Q 10 4 3		A K 8 7 2	5. W	9	6	K!	A
				Q		K		Concede high trump
				K 10 9 7 4		A 8
Bidding	Sacrifice bid				2
	Combat preempt				J 6 5
Play	Deceptive play				A 10 9 7 6 4 3
Defense	Attitude signal				Q 2
	Uppercut			5 × South		Down 3 -500

West	North	East	South	4. W deals	10 9 5		TT=7	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
Pass	4	4 NT	Pass	Both vul	A K Q J 10 8 2		1. N	K	8	6	3
6 !	Pass	Pass	Pass		6 2		2. E	A	7	5	2
					4		3. E	3	9	6	6
9 11	10 13	13 16	8 9	A 6 4 2		Q 3	4. W	7	4	9	2
				7 5 4 3		—	5. E	4	J	A	2
				5		A Q 10 8 4 3	6. W	4	8	Q	9
				A J 7 6		K Q 10 9 8	7. E	8	K	J	10
					K J 8 7		8. W	5	J	10	7
Bidding	Combat preempt				9 6		9. E	K	3	7	Q
	Unusual notrump bid				K J 9 7		10. E	Q	5	2	5
Play	Set up dummy’s suit				5 3 2			South is endplayed
	Throw-in play			6 West		Made 6 +1370

Practice 5F21 Main

Combating Weak Openings VI

Top by Richard Pavlicek

West	North	East	South	1. N deals	A J 9 8 7 6		TT=7	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
	2	3	Pass	None vul	7 6		1. N	8	4	10	3!
3 NT	Pass	Pass	Pass		5 3		2. S	2	5	A	Q
					Q 7 6		3. N	6	2	5	K
12 12	7 9	17 18	4 5	K 5 3		Q 4	4. W	2	3	K	6
				A Q 3 2		K 4	5. E	3	9	K	6
				10 8 2		A K J 9 4	6. W	10	5	4	Q
				K 5 4		A 8 3 2		Win the rest
Bidding	Combat weak two-bid				10 2
Play	Holdup play				J 10 9 8 5
	Finessing technique				Q 7 6
Defense	Choose lead at notrump				J 10 9
	Return partner’s suit			3 NT West		Made 4 +430

West	North	East	South	2. E deals	J 9 7 2		TT=9	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
		3	Dbl	N-S vul	A K 3 2		1. W	Q	2	K!	A
Pass	4	Pass	4		10 2		2. S	A!	5	2	3
Pass	Pass	Pass			A 10 2		3. S	Q!	K	7	3
				K 10 6 5		3	4. W	4	10	J	8
8 8	12 14	6 8	14 15	8 5 4		10 9 7	5. E	10	Q	4	2
				Q 4		K J 9 7 6 5 3	6. S	7!	3	10!	Q
				K 5 4 3		Q 6	7. E	9	J	5	3
Bidding	Combat preempt				A Q 8 4		8. S	8!	4	2	6
	Resp to takeout double				Q J 6		9. S	4	6	9	5
Play	Placing enemy cards				A 8			Draw trump and claim
	Communication/entries				J 9 8 7
Defense	Overtaking play			4 South		Made 4 +620

West	North	East	South	3. S deals	K 9 8 7		TT=9	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
			3	E-W vul	Q J 10		1. S	K	2	Q	4
3	Pass	3	Pass		Q		2. S	A	J	5	5
4	AP				Q 10 9 7 5		3. S	9	2!	7	10
				Q J		A 10 6 5 4 3	4. N	10	J	2	3
15 15	10 10	8 10	7 10	A K 7 5 4 2		3	5. E	3	6	A	10
				J 2		10 5 4	6. W	Q	K	A	2
Bidding	Combat preempt			A 6 3		K J 4	7. E	3	3	J	8
	Resp to suit overcall				2			Win the rest
Play	Avoid trump loser				9 8 6
	Placing enemy cards				A K 9 8 7 6 3
Defense	Trump promotion				8 2
	Try for an overruff			4 East		Made 4 +620

West	North	East	South	4. W deals	K 4		TT=8	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
Pass	Pass	3	Dbl	Both vul	10 9 7 6 5		1. E	2	Q	3	5
Pass	4	Pass	Pass		A 8 6 5		2. S	A!	5	3	2
Pass					J 3		3. S	K	6	J	9
				10 5		A Q 9 8 7 6 3	4. S	4	Q	9	10
9 11	8 9	6 9	17 17	A 4		8 2	5. N	5	2	K	A
				K 7 4 3		2	6. W	4	6	8	9
				Q 8 7 6 5		10 9 2		E endplayed (lose 1)
					J 2
					K Q J 3
Bidding	Combat preempt				Q J 10 9
Play	Read enemy lead				A K 4
	Elimination technique			4 North		Made 4 +620

Practice 5F01-5F21 Main

Top 24 Practice Deals

© 1994 Richard Pavlicek