Practice 6A01 Main

Counting by Declarer

by Richard Pavlicek

West

Dbl
3 NT NORTH
Pass
Pass
All Pass East
1
1 NT South
1
Pass Board 1 7 2
J 9 7 6
J 7
Q J 10 9 4 Trick
1 S
2 S
3 E
4 N
5 N
6 E
7 W
8 W
9 E
10 E
11 W Lead
K
Q
5
Q
J
8
A
2
Q
8
5! 2nd
3
5
2
6
K
4
4
6
8
6
10 3rd
2
7
10
7
3
Q
9
A
3
A
8 4th
4
A!
J
2!
3
7
6
5
7
9
10 W L
0 1
1 1
1 2
1 3
2 3
3 3
4 3
5 3
6 3
7 3
7 4
5 3
K 10 3 2
A Q 10
A 5 3 2 Table A 9 8 4
A Q 4
9 8 5
K 8 6
Bidding
Play
Negative double
Count hand pattern
Throw-in play

K Q J 10 6
8 5
K 6 4 3 2
7
3 NT East 7 top tricks North is endplayed made 3 -400

West

Pass North

3 NT EAST
Pass
All Pass South
1 NT Board 2 A 9 3 2
K 6 4
A 10 3
9 7 5 Trick
1 W
2 E
3 W
4 S
5 S
6 E
7 S
8 N
9 N
10 S Lead
Q
4
2
K
2!
Q
7
K
4
Q! 2nd
5
6
9
6
5
K
8
5
7
7 3rd
K
10
3
2
10!
6
A
2
A
3 4th
3
7
A
5
J
3
4
9
J
8 W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
2 3
3 3
4 3
5 3
6 3
7 3
J 8 7 6
J 9
6 5
Q J 10 8 2 Table 5
Q 10 7 5 3
Q J 9 8 4
K 4
Bidding
Play

Defense Response to 1 NT
Avoidance finesse
Count hand pattern
Unblocking play

K Q 10 4
A 8 2
K 7 2
A 6 3
3 NT South 8 top tricks Win 2 more tricks made 3 +600

West

3 NT North

Pass East

6 NT SOUTH
3
All Pass Board 3 K J 9 7 5 3
10
7 6 5
7 6 5 Trick
1 N
2 W
3 W
4 W
5 E
6 E
7 S
8 W
9 W
10 W Lead
10
K
Q
2
A
2!
K
A!
Q
2 2nd
2
5
6
7
4
Q
A
9
5
6 3rd
5
8
9
10
J
4!
5
10
3
A! 4th
Q
3
4
3
7
3
6
7
4
9 W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
5 1
6 1
7 1
8 1
9 1
A 8 6 4
A Q 8
Q 2
K Q J 2 Table 10 2
6 2
A K 10 8 3
A 10 9 8
Bidding

Play Combat preempt
Slam decision
Count hand pattern

Q
K J 9 7 5 4 3
J 9 4
4 3
6 NT West 10 top tricks Win the rest made 6 -1440

WEST
1
Pass North
1
4 East
Pass
All Pass South
3 Board 4 A K J 10 9
9 6 2
9 4
K J 3 Trick
1 E
2 S
3 N
4 N
5 W
6 W
7 N
8 S
9 S
10 N
11 N Lead
J
5
J
2
K
Q
10
A
5!
A
6 2nd
A
2
8
3
9
9
4
7
7
10
5 3rd
8
K
6
Q
6
2
Q
9!
K!
6
8! 4th
4
4
3
K
5
7
7
4
9
2
3 W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
3 1
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
7 2
8 2
9 2
7 3 2
K 7
K Q 10 8 3 2
A 7 Table 8 4
10 5 4 3
J 6
Q 10 9 4 2
Play
Placing enemy cards
Count hand pattern

Q 6 5
A Q J 8
A 7 5
8 6 5
4 North 7 top tricks Lose the last trick made 4 +620

Practice 6A05 Main

Top Counting by Declarer

Counting by Declarer II

West

Dbl
3 NORTH
2
Pass
Pass East
Pass
3
4 South
Pass
Pass
All Pass Board 1 K Q J 8 7 6
J 3
5 4
10 7 5 Trick
1 N
2 N
3 W
4 E
5 W
6 N
7 W
8 W
9 W Lead
K
Q
5
2
3
5
K
A
8 2nd
9
10
3
6
6
2
J
7
10 3rd
5
4
A
Q
3!
9
4
4
8 4th
2!
A
2
5
9
A
9
J
K W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
3 1
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
7 2
A 3 2
K Q 7 6 5
A 6
A Q 8 Table 10 9
A 8 4
J 8 7 3 2
4 3 2
Bidding

Play
Combat weak two-bid
Rebid by doubler
Count hand pattern
Transfer ruff

5 4
10 9 2
K Q 10 9
K J 9 6
4 West 8 top tricks Lose 1 more trick made 4 -420

West

Pass
Pass
All Pass North

1
2 NT EAST
Pass
Pass
Pass South
1
2
3 NT Board 2 A J 9 8 2
7 2
A 4 3
K 4 2 Trick
1 E
2 S
3 E
4 W
5 N
6 N
7 N
8 S
9 S
10 N
11 S Lead
5
Q
3
9
A
J
2!
A
2!
3
5! 2nd
A
3
7
K
6
7
9
10
5
10
Q 3rd
10
2
Q
6
4
4
K
7
A
K!
8 4th
2
K
4
3
5
6
8
J
8
7
8 W L
1 0
1 1
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
7 2
8 2
8 3
5 3
Q 10 8 6
Q 9 7 5
Q 10 9 Table K 10 7 6
J 9
10 8
J 8 6 5 3
Bidding

Play
Rebid by opener
Rebid by responder
Count hand pattern
Throw-in play

Q 4
A K 5 4 3
K J 6 2
A 7
3 NT North 7 top tricks W endplayed (lose 1) made 3 +600

West

Dbl North

Pass East

4 SOUTH
4
All Pass Board 3 J 10 6
5 4
K Q 10 9 3 2
8 5 Trick
1 S
2 S
3 S
4 W
5 W
6 W
7 E
8 N
9 E
10 E
11 E Lead
K
A
8
A
K
4
6!
K
9
K
J 2nd
9
10
A
6
10
J
7
5
J
2
7 3rd
5
4
10
2
3
Q
J
8
8
3
4 4th
6
Q
4
2
3
7
Q
5
2
5
8 W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
4 3
5 3
6 3
7 3
8 3
A K 8 4
10 9
A J 5
A 10 4 3 Table Q 9 7 5 3 2
Q 6
6 4
K J 6
Bidding

Play Combat preempt
Optional double
Count hand pattern

—
A K J 8 7 3 2
8 7
Q 9 7 2
4 East 9 top tricks Claim the rest made 4 -620

WEST
1
Pass North
Dbl
4 East
Pass
All Pass South
2 Board 4 A 7 6 4
A K Q 9
7 6 5 2
10 Trick
1 W
2 S
3 N
4 W
5 S
6 N
7 W
8 N
9 S
10 S Lead
K
2
2!
6
9
5
4
4
J
8! 2nd
10
5
J
9
J
8
A
2
5
7 3rd
3
Q
3
2
K
4!
3
K
6
7 4th
A
4
Q
10
6
A
7
3
8
? W L
1 0
2 0
2 1
3 1
4 1
4 2
5 2
6 2
7 2
0 0
J 3
6 5 4
A Q
K Q J 8 7 5 Table Q 9 8 2
3 2
J 10 9 8
6 4 3
Bidding
Play
Resp to takeout double
Placing enemy cards
Unusual squeeze

K 10 5
J 10 8 7
K 4 3
A 9 2
4 South 7 top tricks East is squeezed made 5 +650

Practice 6A09 Main

Top Counting by Declarer

Counting by Declarer III

West

2 NORTH
1
2 East
Pass
3 South
Pass
All Pass Board 1 A K 10 8 7
A 10 9 8
Q 4
K Q Trick
1 N
2 N
3 N
4 W
5 E
6 N
7 N
8 W
9 E
10 W
11 E Lead
K
A
K
4
2
Q
10
7
5
7
J 2nd
2
3
9
8
6
J
J
7
4
4
3 3rd
6
4
5
K!
7
2
Q
9
6
A
K! 4th
J
Q
A
5
9
6
5
3
8
2
Q W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
2 3
2 4
3 4
4 4
5 4
6 4
7 4
Q J
7 4
K 10 8 7 6 5
A 7 6 Table 9 5 3 2
K J 3 2
A J 9
J 9
Bidding

Play
Balancing bid
Competitive auction
Placing enemy cards
Count hand pattern

6 4
Q 6 5
3 2
10 8 5 4 3 2
3 West 6 top tricks Claim the rest made 3 -110

West

Pass
Pass North

2
3 NT EAST
Pass
Pass
All Pass South
1 NT
2 Board 2 A 6 5 3
8 2
A 5 3
K 10 5 2 Trick
1 W
2 E
3 W
4 S
5 E
6 N
7 S
8 N
9 S
10 S
11 N Lead
7
10
9
3
10
2
9
3
K!
4
5 2nd
2
5
3
6
2
4
J
2
Q
8
9 3rd
Q
J!
6
10!
J
A
K
K
5
A
10! 4th
3
8
A
Q
A
7
7
6
8
7
4 W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
1 3
2 3
3 3
4 3
5 3
6 3
7 3
8 3
Q J
K J 9 7 4
8 6
J 8 7 6 Table 10 9 8 7
Q 10 6
J 9 7 2
Q 4
Bidding
Play

Defense Stayman convention
Avoidance finesse
Count hand pattern
Overtaking play

K 4 2
A 5 3
K Q 10 4
A 9 3
3 NT South 8 top tricks Cash 1 more winner made 3 +600

West

1
2
5 North

Pass
Pass
Pass East

2
4 NT
6 SOUTH
Pass
Pass
Pass
All Pass Board 3 Q 10 9 6
10 9 8 7
—
A J 9 7 3 Trick
1 S
2 S
3 E
4 E
5 E
6 E
7 E
8 W
9 W
10 E
11 E
12 W Lead
K
4
A
K
Q
J
4
K
3
8!
2
5 2nd
5
10
2
6
9
10
7
9
Q
Q
6
10 3rd
9
A
3
5
3
2
A
5
7
4
A
K! 4th
6
4
3
7
J
7
6
J
2
8
9
Q W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 1
6 1
7 1
8 1
9 1
10 1
11 1
A K 8 3 2
A 5 4 3
5 3
10 5 Table 5 4
K J 2
A K Q J 8 7 4
6
Bidding

Play
Rebid after 2-over-1
Blackwood convention
Combine chances
Show-up finesse

J 7
Q 6
10 9 6 2
K Q 8 4 2
6 East 11 top tricks Win the last trick made 6 -1370

WEST
Pass
Pass North
1 NT
6 NT East
Pass
All Pass South
4 NT Board 4 K 10 8 7
A Q 2
4 3 2
A K J Trick
1 E
2 N
3 W
4 N
5 N
6 S
7 S
8 N
9 S
10 N Lead
10
2
7
J
3
J
4
2
5!
10 2nd
2
5
K
8
7
9
3
9
2
4 3rd
Q
Q
5
6
A
4
A
K
K
6! 4th
A
K
3
4
6
8
8
5
3
6 W L
1 0
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 1
6 1
7 1
8 1
9 1
2
J 9 7 6 5 3
K 9 6
Q 7 4 Table J 9 4 3
8
10 8 7 5
10 9 8 5
Bidding
Play
Quantitative 4 NT
Count hand pattern
Finessing technique

A Q 6 5
K 10 4
A Q J
6 3 2
6 NT North 10 top tricks Claim the rest made 6 +1440

Practice 6A13 Main

Top Counting by Declarer

Counting by Declarer IV

West

3 NT NORTH
Pass
All Pass East
1 NT South
Pass Board 1 K 6 3
Q J 5
8 6
J 10 9 5 3 Trick
1 S
2 N
3 E
4 S
5 W
6 W
7 E
8 E
9 W Lead
5
6
4
9
Q
2
Q
3
K 2nd
2
Q
A
A
5
6
7
9
? 3rd
K
7
2
3
6
A
4
10! 4th
4
8
3
10
4
5
8
9 W L
0 1
1 1
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
A 8 2
K 7 2
K 10 4 2
Q 7 2 Table Q 10 4
A 10 3
A Q 3
K 8 6 4
Play

Lead toward honor
Finessing technique
Count South 4=4=4=1

J 9 7 5
9 8 6 4
J 9 7 5
A
3 NT East 6 top tricks North is squeezed made 5 -460

West

5
All Pass North

5 EAST
3
Pass South
3
6 Board 2 K Q J 10 8 7
A J 4
7 6 3
2 Trick
1 E
2 E
3 N
4 N
5 S
6 N
7 N
8 S
9 S
10 N
11 N Lead
K
Q
K
4!
9
A
J
A
10
Q
6 2nd
3
4
2
8
4
2
7
2
A
9
5 3rd
6
5
6
K
10
8
A
3
8
9
J! 4th
2
7
3
3
5
5
6
4
8
7
9 W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 1
6 1
7 1
8 1
9 1
10 1
4 3
Q 10 9 7 6 5 3
2
A 6 5 Table 5 2
8 2
Q 5 4
K Q J 9 8 7
Bidding

Play

Combat preempt
Combat sacrifice bid
Count hand pattern
Finessing technique
Determine East’s shape

A 9 6
K
A K J 10 9 8
10 4 3
6 North 10 top tricks Win the rest made 6 +1430

West

Pass
Pass North

1
3 NT East

Pass
All Pass SOUTH
1
2 NT Board 3 7 6 2
A Q 10 2
K 10 2
4 3 2 Trick
1 W
2 W
3 W
4 S
5 E
6 S
7 N
8 S
9 S
10 N
11 S Lead
K
Q
J
3
10
4
2
K
3
2
5! 2nd
2
3
4
9
A
7
8
J
5
8
8 3rd
5
9
3
10
4
K
A
6
Q
K
7 4th
6
7
A
Q
2
6
8
9
6
7
Q W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
1 3
2 3
3 3
4 3
5 3
6 3
7 3
7 4
J 4
7 5
J 9 8 7
K Q J 10 8 Table Q 10 9 8 3
J 9 8 6
Q 6
9 5
Bidding
Play

Response to 1 NT
Holdup play
Throw-in play
Determine West’s shape

A K 5
K 4 3
A 5 4 3
A 7 6
3 NT South 8 top tricks East is endplayed made 3 +400

WEST
1
4 North
2 NT
All Pass East
3 South
Pass Board 4 Q 2
2
K Q J 10 9
Q J 10 9 5 Trick
1 N
2 N
3 W
4 W
5 E
6 W
7 W
8 E
9 W
10 W
11 N Lead
K
Q
A
8
7
K!
4
3
A!
5!
J 2nd
3
6
2
5
5
9
10
8
2
Q
7 3rd
8
2
4
J
10
2
A
9
3
7
10 4th
5!
A
6
3
9
6
7
J
4
9
4 W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 1
6 1
7 1
8 1
8 2
8 3
A 6 5
A K 10 9 8
A 5 4
K 4 Table 8 7 3
Q J 7 4
7 6 3
A 3 2
Bidding

Play

Unusual notrump bid
Competitive auction
Holdup play
Ruff/discard endplay
Count North 2=1=5=5

K J 10 9 4
6 5 3
8 2
8 7 6
4 West 9 top tricks North is endplayed made 4 -620

Practice 6A17 Main

Top Counting by Declarer

Counting by Declarer V

West

3
3 NT NORTH
3
Pass
All Pass East
Dbl
3 South
Pass
Pass Board 1 8 7 6
J 10
2
A Q J 9 7 6 5 Trick
1 N
2 E
3 E
4 E
5 S
6 N
7 W
8 W
9 W
10 S Lead
J
K
A
J
2
10
9
4
9!
7 2nd
A
6
10
Q
3
2
6
J
6
5 3rd
8
3
7
8
9
3
5
3
8
Q 4th
4
2
7
5
4
K
6
5
Q
4 W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
3 1
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
6 3
6 4
2
K 9 5 4
9 8 7 4 3
K 10 3 Table A K J 4 3
A 2
A K J 5
8 4
Bidding
Play

Defense Combat preempt
Placing enemy cards
Throw-in play
Choose lead at notrump

Q 10 9 5
Q 8 7 6 3
Q 10 6
2
3 NT West 6 top tricks South is endplayed made 3 -400

West

Dbl
All Pass North

2 EAST
1
2 South
1
4 Board 2 K J 2
10 9 2
9 7
K J 7 6 5 Trick
1 W
2 E
3 N
4 S
5 N Lead
2
9
2!
7
J 2nd
7
3
3
6
Q 3rd
A
2
A
K
J! 4th
4
J
4
5
9 W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
3 1
3 2
10 9 6 4
4
K 10 6 2
Q 10 4 2 Table Q 8 5 3
A 5 3
A Q 8 5 3
9
Bidding

Play

Defense Negative double
Follow up major raise
Placing enemy cards
Break communication
Try for a ruff

A 7
K Q J 8 7 6
J 4
A 8 3
4 South 9 top tricks Lose 1 more trick made 4 +620

West

Pass
Pass North

1
Pass East

1
2 SOUTH
1
1 NT
All Pass Board 3 J 3 2
Q 8 3 2
6 3 2
A J 10 Trick
1 S
2 E
3 W
4 S Lead
Q
8
5
10 2nd
4
9
3
K! 3rd
2
Q
10
3 4th
A
2
A
5 W L
1 0
2 0
2 1
3 1
Q 5
K J 7 4
7 5 4
9 7 5 2 Table K 10 8 7 6 4
6 5
A K 10
Q 6
Bidding
Play
Defense Rebid by overcaller
Placing enemy cards
Try to fool declarer

A 9
A 10 9
Q J 9 8
K 8 4 3
2 East 6 top tricks Win 5 more tricks made 2 -110

WEST
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass North
2
2
4
6 East
Pass
Pass
Pass
All Pass South
2
3
5 Board 4 —
A Q J 7 6 5
A K Q 10 3
K 3 Trick
1 E
2 N
3 W
4 S Lead
10
3
5
10 2nd
J
5
3
2 3rd
Q
Q
2
A! 4th
5
A
J
K W L
1 0
1 1
2 1
3 1
A Q 6 5
4 3 2
8 7 6 5
A 2 Table 10 9 8 7 4
K
9 4 2
J 10 8 5
Bidding

Play

Opening 2 & response
Control-showing bid
Placing enemy cards
West passed A-Q A so
cannot have K

K J 3 2
10 9 8
J
Q 9 7 6 4
6 North 10 top tricks Win the rest made 6 +1430

Practice 6A21 Main

Top Counting by Declarer

Counting by Declarer VI

West

4 NORTH
1
4 East
2 NT
All Pass South
3 Board 1 A 6 4
A Q J 10 6 5
A J 3
6 Trick
1 E
2 W
3 W
4 N
5 S
6 N
7 N
8 S
9 N
10 S
11 N Lead
K
K
2
5
5
A
6
8
4
5
6! 2nd
3
3!
A
2
7
9
10
9
2
9
8 3rd
A!
7
6
K
10
2
9
J
K
A
J 4th
6
4
5
8
4
4
7
J
3
7
Q W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
7 2
8 2
8 3
Q 10 9 3
8 7 4
K 2
A 10 9 7 Table 8 7 2
—
Q 10 9 7 6
K Q J 4 2
Bidding
Play

Defense Unusual notrump bid
Count hand pattern
Ruff/discard endplay
Overtaking play

K J 5
K 9 3 2
8 5 4
8 5 3
4 North 9 top tricks West is endplayed made 4 +420

West

1
4 North

1
All Pass EAST
1
2 South
Pass
2 Board 2 K J 9 4 3 2
8 4
A 8
10 9 6 Trick
1 N
2 S
3 N
4 W
5 E
6 W
7 E
8 E
9 W
10 E Lead
4
8
10
2
3
5
K
3
4
2 2nd
6
Q
2
4
7
2
5
J
8
9 3rd
A
K
7
A
J
9
8
10
K!
6 4th
5
10
A
6
8
4
6
9
5
A W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
7 2
7 3
Q 5
K J 10 5 2
Q 7 6 4
A 8 Table 10 6
A Q 9 3
K 10 3 2
K 3 2
Play
Count hand pattern
Finessing technique

A 8 7
7 6
J 9 5
Q J 7 5 4
4 West 7 top tricks Claim the rest made 4 -420

West

1
2
4 NT
6 North

Pass
Pass
Pass
All Pass East

1
3
5 SOUTH
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass Board 3 Q J 8 5
8 4
9 4
K 10 8 6 5 Trick
1 S
2 W
3 S
4 E
5 W
6 E
7 W
8 E
9 W
10 E
11 E
12 E Lead
5
K
7
J
2
4
7
2
9
A
A
7 2nd
K
8
2
4
6
2
8
5
10
10
6
8 3rd
4
3
8
A
6
J
10
K
Q
Q
3
10! 4th
3
A
9
5
3
5
6
4
9
K
9
J W L
1 0
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 1
6 1
7 1
8 1
9 1
10 1
11 1
K
K J 2
K Q 10 3
A Q 9 7 2 Table 7 4 3
A Q 10 9 6 3
A 7 2
J
Bidding
Play
Blackwood convention
Combine chances
Count hand pattern

A 10 9 6 2
7 5
J 8 6 5
4 3
6 East 10 top tricks Win the last trick made 6 -1430

WEST
2
Pass
All Pass North
Dbl
5 East
Pass
Pass South
3
6 Board 4 A Q
K Q J
Q 8 2
A K J 10 4 Trick
1 W
2 W
3 N
4 N
5 N
6 N
7 N
8 S
9 S
10 S Lead
K
2!
K
Q
J
A
8
K
J
6 2nd
2
A
3
6
9
7
6
9
7
5 3rd
3
3
2
5
7
3
10
Q
4
10! 4th
J
8
4
8
4
2
5
4
5
6 W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 1
6 1
7 1
8 1
9 1
9 2
8 4
A K 10 7 5 4
Q 5 2 Table 10 7 6 5 4 3
9 6 3
9 6 3
7
Bidding

Play
Defense Combat weak two-bid
Bid of 5 in a major
Count hand pattern
Try to fool declarer

K J 8
A 10 7 5 2
J
9 8 6 3
6 South 10 top tricks Win the rest made 6 +1430

Practice 6A21 Main

Top Counting by Declarer