Practice 3A01
Main
Notrump Auctions
by Richard Pavlicek
West
Pass
Pass
All Pass
NORTH
1 NT
Pass
2 NT
East
2
1
2
Pass
South
Dbl!
Pass
3 NT
Board 1
9 8
K Q 4
A K J 5 4
Q 10 2
Trick
1 E
2 N
3 N
4 S
5 N
6 N
7 N
8 N
9 E
10 S
11 S
Lead
J
A
8
8!
K
5
4
9
K
A
5!
2nd
3
2
10
10
6
5
7
J
A
3
8
3rd
2
9!
Q
J
!
7!
3
8
3!
7
10
Q
4th
K
6
2
4
Q
6
5
4
2
9
6
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 0
7 0
7 1
8 1
9 1
9 2
7 4 2
8 5 2
Q 10 6
K J 6 3
K J 10 6
A J 10 9 6
2
7 5 4
Note 1
Bidding
Play
Cappelletti
Interference over 1 NT
Unblocking play
Avoidance finesse
Play
A Q 5 3
7 3
9 8 7 3
A 9 8
3 NT North
4 top tricks
E endplayed (lose 1)
made 4 +430
West
2
!
3
6
North
Pass
Pass
All Pass
EAST
1 NT
2
4
South
Pass
Pass
Pass
Board 2
9 8 6 2
J 9 7 6 4 3
—
K 8 2
Trick
1 N
2 W
3 W
4 E
5 W
6 W
7 E
8 E
9 E
10 W
11 E
Lead
2!
A
4
7
K
2
K
Q
7
3
J
2nd
3
3
4
5
6
6
5
5
10
8
K
3rd
9
10!
Q
8
!
4
A
5
6
6
A
!
4
4th
A
2
3
2
J
10
7
9
8
7
9
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 0
7 0
8 0
9 0
10 0
10 1
Q 4 3
5 2
A K 9 8 6 4
A 6
A J
A K Q 8
Q 10 7
J 7 4 3
Bidding
Play
Defense
Stayman convention
Slam decision
Unblocking play
Shun finesse
Choose lead vs slam
Play
K 10 7 5
10
J 5 3 2
Q 10 9 5
6
West
11 top tricks
Claim the rest
made 6 -920
West
2
Pass
All Pass
North
3
!
3 NT
East
Pass
Pass
SOUTH
1 NT
3
4
Board 3
Q 8 6 4
A 2
7 2
K J 7 6 5
Trick
1 W
2 W
3 W
4 S
5 S
6 N
7 S
8 N
9 E
10 N
Lead
K
A
3
A
2
6
2
6
8!
7
2nd
2
7
5
7
9
J
9
10
3!
Q
3rd
4
5
8
4
Q
K
K
4
J
10
4th
3
Q
A
3
5
6
9
10
8
5
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
5 3
6 3
7 3
9 7
Q 9 7 5
A K J 10 9 6
3
J 5 3
J 6 4
8 5 4
Q 10 9 8
Bidding
Play
Defense
Interference over 1 NT
Cue-bid general force
Set up dummy’s suit
Ruffing with 4-4 fit
Try for a ruff
Play
A K 10 2
K 10 8 3
Q 3
A 4 2
4
South
8 top tricks
Win the rest
made 4 +420
WEST
1 NT
Pass
4
North
Pass
Pass
All Pass
East
2
!
3
South
Dbl
Pass
Board 4
7 5 3
J 10 4 3
A J 10 6
8 5
Trick
1 S
2 W
3 E
4 W
5 E
6 W
7 N
8 S
9 N
10 W
11 E
12 W
Lead
K
2!
4
2
9
6!
6
5
3
J
J
8
2nd
A
5
6
5
10
10
!
7
4
7
J
Q
4
3rd
8
6
K
A
5
2!
K
10
2
8
K
9
4th
4
3
3
8
7
7
3
9
Q
9
A
10
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
5 1
5 2
5 3
6 3
7 3
8 3
9 3
K 2
K Q 5
Q 8 4 3
A J 6 2
A J 9 4
A 9 8 7 6
9 7 2
4
Bidding
Play
Defense
Stayman convention
Rebid by responder
Crossruff
Trump coup
Uppercut
Play
Q 10 8 6
2
K 5
K Q 10 9 7 3
4
East
8 top tricks
Win the last trick
made 4 -620
Practice 3A05
Main
Top
Notrump Auctions
Notrump Auctions II
West
2
Pass
All Pass
NORTH
1 NT
Pass
4
East
2
1
Pass
Pass
South
Dbl
3
!
5
Board 1
J 5 4
A Q 7
K 8 3
K Q 10 7
Trick
1 E
2 E
3 S
4 N
5 S
6 N
7 S
8 N
9 S
10 N
Lead
K
Q
2
7
3
3
5
8
6
J
2nd
3
9
5
6
8
2
9
10
J
A
3rd
2
7
K
A
Q
Q
K
A
10
4!
4th
4
5
4
6
3
7
4
10
9
8
W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 1
6 1
7 1
8 1
8 2
10 8 7 2
9 2
J 10 9 7
8 6 5
A K Q 9 6
K J 10 8 3
4 2
4
Note 1
Bidding
Play
Landy (majors)
Interference over 1 NT
Choose best game
Shun finesse
Throw-in play
Play
3
6 5 4
A Q 6 5
A J 9 3 2
5
North
9 top tricks
East is endplayed
made 5 +400
West
3
!
North
All Pass
EAST
1 NT
South
2
Board 2
K 9 6 2
J 5
10 6 3
K 6 5 3
Trick
1 N
2 E
3 S
4 S
5 S
6 E
7 E
8 N
9 E
Lead
J
K
Q
10
9
Q
J
2
10
2nd
A
A
7
4!
9
3
4
A
8
3rd
K!
2
5
3
10
4
2
3
7
4th
2
3
4
6
J
6
K
7
5
W L
1 0
1 1
1 2
1 3
2 3
3 3
3 4
4 4
5 4
7 4
7 2
9 8 7 5 4 2
A 7 2
A J 8 5
A 6 4
K Q J
J 10 9
Bidding
Play
Defense
Interference over 1 NT
Competitive auction
Avert overruff
Transfer ruff
Honor signal
Try for an overruff
Play
Q 10 3
K Q 10 9 8 3
A
Q 8 4
3
West
8 top tricks
Win the rest
made 3 -110
West
Pass
Pass
North
2
3
!
East
Pass
All Pass
SOUTH
1 NT
2
Board 3
K 5 3
A 9 8 5
7 2
J 7 4 2
Trick
1 W
2 N
3 S
4 N
5 E
6 S
7 S
8 N
9 S
10 N
Lead
4
2!
3
7
J
Q
7
5
9
2
2nd
K
!
6
2
A
A
J
9
7
3
10
3rd
8
K
A
4
6
5
8
K
!
9
K
4th
2
3
6
8
3
5
10
10
10
A
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
3 1
4 1
5 1
6 1
7 1
8 1
8 2
Q 9 6 4
Q 10 2
J 8 3
A 9 3
J 10 8
7 6
A 10 6 5
Q 10 6 5
Bidding
Play
Defense
Stayman convention
Rebid by responder
Timing the play
Obtain early discard
Honor signal
Play
A 7 2
K J 4 3
K Q 9 4
K 8
3
South
5 top tricks
Win 1 more trick
made 3 +140
WEST
Pass
2
2 NT!
North
Pass
Pass
Pass
East
1 NT
2
3 NT
South
Pass
Pass
All Pass
Board 4
K 9 6 4
Q 9 8 7 5
8
A 10 2
Trick
1 S
2 E
3 E
4 W
5 S
6 N
7 S
8 S
9 E
10 W
11 W
12 W
Lead
6
A
!
Q
2!
7
2
Q
3
3
J
6
6
2nd
5
4
5
7
K
4
7
8
7
6
8
9
3rd
10!
2
K
!
10
A
8
9
K
9
4
10
J
4th
J
8
5
K
3
2
9
A
4
10
5
3
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
3 1
3 2
3 3
3 4
4 4
5 4
6 4
7 4
8 4
J 8 7 2
6 2
K J 9 6 2
K 5
A 10
A J 10 4
A Q 3
J 9 4 3
Bidding
Play
Defense
Stayman convention
Rebid by responder
Communication/entries
Finessing technique
Third-hand play
Play
Q 5 3
K 3
10 7 5 4
Q 8 7 6
3 NT East
6 top tricks
Win the last trick
made 3 -600
Practice 3A09
Main
Top
Notrump Auctions
Notrump Auctions III
West
Pass
Pass
Pass
NORTH
1 NT
2
4
6
East
Pass
Pass
Pass
All Pass
South
2
3
!
5
Board 1
A Q 3 2
A Q 3
Q 9 8 6
K 6
Trick
1 W
2 N
3 S
4 S
5 N
Lead
J
Q!
10
!
J
A
2nd
A
!
4
2
4
8
3rd
4
A
!
3!
Q
6
4th
5
5
6
7
5
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
J 10 9 7
K 5 4 2
K 5
9 4 2
K 8 4
9 8 7 6
4
10 8 7 5 3
Bidding
Play
Defense
Stayman convention
Control-showing bid
Shun finesse
Play for best chance
When to cover honor
Play
6 5
J 10
A J 10 7 3 2
A Q J
6
South
10 top tricks
Concede high trump
made 6 +920
West
3
!
North
All Pass
EAST
1 NT
South
Pass
Board 2
J 9 2
K 10 7 4
Q 10 8 2
A 6
Trick
1 N
2 E
3 W
4 E
5 W
6 N
7 S
8 E
9 W
10 W
11 E
Lead
2
4!
5
5
Q
4
Q
7
J
3
9
2nd
A
K
6
J
A
2
6
6
2
9
10
3rd
6
7
K
8
3
J
7
9
3
A
!
4
4th
3
8
4
10
2
5
A
Q
10
7
10
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
4 1
4 2
5 2
6 2
7 2
8 2
9 2
8 4 3
9 6 5
3
Q J 9 8 7 5
A Q 5
A 3 2
A 9 7 5 4
K 3
Bidding
Play
Defense
Opening one-bid
Response to 1 NT
Set up dummy’s suit
Communication/entries
Attack dummy’s entry
Choose lead at suit
Play
K 10 7 6
Q J 8
K J 6
10 4 2
3
West
8 top tricks
Lose last 2 tricks
made 3 -110
West
1 NT
2
North
Pass
Pass
East
2
!
4
SOUTH
Pass
Pass
All Pass
Board 3
J 7
Q 2
K J 8 6
J 10 9 7 6
Trick
1 S
2 W
3 E
4 W
5 W
6 E
7 S
8 W
9 E
Lead
10
3
2
K
5
8
3!
4
9
2nd
A
!
6
3
7
J
10
A
!
J
Q
3rd
8
A
K
3
A
6
2
6
J
4th
2
2
7
4
4
9
5
7
Q
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
5 1
6 1
7 1
7 2
K 6 5
A J
A Q 5 4
K 8 5 3
A 9 8 2
10 9 8 7 6 5
3 2
A
Bidding
Play
Defense
Response to 1 NT
Shun finesse
Ruff in short hand
Attitude signal
Fight declarer’s plan
Play
Q 10 4 3
K 4 3
10 9 7
Q 4 2
4
East
9 top tricks
Concede high trump
made 4 -620
WEST
Pass
Pass
All Pass
North
1 NT
2
East
Pass
Pass
South
2
3 NT!
Board 4
A J
A 10 7
A Q 9 7
10 8 4 2
Trick
1 E
2 W
3 S
4 E
5 N
6 W
Lead
3
5
3!
8
10
2
2nd
6!
10
10
3
3
A
!
3rd
K
2
J
4
5
4
4th
7!
Q
K
A
K
5
W L
0 1
1 1
1 2
2 2
2 3
3 3
10 9 8 5
K 5 4
J 8 6 2
K 7
K 4 2
J 9 8 3 2
K 10 4
9 3
Bidding
Play
Stayman convention
Rebid by responder
Holdup play
Timing the play
Play
Q 7 6 3
Q 6
5 3
A Q J 6 5
3 NT North
4 top tricks
Cash 6 more winners
made 3 +600
Practice 3A13
Main
Top
Notrump Auctions
Notrump Auctions IV
West
All Pass
NORTH
1 NT
East
2
1
South
3
!
Board 1
A Q 7
8 7 3
A Q 8 6 4
A 4
Trick
1 W
2 E
3 S
4 N
5 N
6 S
7 N
8 S
9 N
10 S
11 E
Lead
8
K
7
A
4
5
6
5
8
9!
Q
2nd
7
A
2
J
3
7
4
4
6
5
10!
3rd
J
10
Q
!
2
3
A
6
A
8
7
9
4th
2
3
5
3
9
2
10
6
K
J
8
W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 1
6 1
7 1
8 1
8 2
8 3
8 4
10 5
K 10 9 3 2
K J 9 7
K J 9 6 3
K Q J 6 4
J 5
2
Note 1
Bidding
Play
Landy (both majors)
Interference over 1 NT
Competitive auction
Obtain early discard
Trump endplay
Play
10 5 2
A 9 2
7
Q 10 8 6 5 3
3
South
7 top tricks
W endplayed (lose 1)
made 3 +110
West
2
3 NT!
North
Pass
Pass
EAST
1 NT
2
4
South
Pass
Pass
All Pass
Board 2
4 2
Q 9 7 3
J 9 7
K J 9 3
Trick
1 S
2 E
3 N
4 S
5 N
6 W
7 E
8 W
9 E
10 W
11 E
Lead
K
2!
9
3
2
2
8
4
4
5
5
2nd
2
6
4
10
3
3
10
9
10
J
3rd
7
Q
Q
J
6
A
A
A
!
9
K
4th
A
K
8
5
Q
5
3
6
7
6
W L
1 0
1 1
1 2
1 3
2 3
3 3
4 3
5 3
6 3
7 3
Q J 10 9
2
10 8 2
A Q 7 5 4
A K 5 3
A J 8 4
A 5 4
8 2
Bidding
Play
Stayman convention
Rebid by NT bidder
Set up dummy’s suit
Avert overruff
Play
8 7 6
K 10 6 5
K Q 6 3
10 6
4
East
7 top tricks
Draw trump and claim
made 4 -420
West
Pass
Pass
Pass
North
2
3
!
6
East
Pass
Pass
All Pass
SOUTH
1 NT
2
4
Board 3
A 5 3
4 3
K 3 2
A K 8 7 4
Trick
1 E
2 S
3 S
4 N
5 W
6 N
7 S
8 S
9 S
10 N
11 N
Lead
J
Q
5
3
8
3
K
A
5
A
3
2nd
A
!
4
7
2
K
2
7
7
8
Q
10
3rd
9
4
A
Q
6
J
!
5
4
7
5
9
4th
2
2
3
K
4
6
10
9
J
8
Q
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
3 1
4 1
5 1
6 1
7 1
8 1
9 1
10 1
9 8 7 6 4
K 10 8 7
Q 9 8 7
—
Q 10 2
J 9 2
J 10 6
10 6 3 2
Bidding
Play
Stayman convention
Slam decision
Finessing technique
Crossruff
Play
K J
A Q 6 5
A 5 4
Q J 9 5
6
North
10 top tricks
Win the rest
made 6 +920
WEST
1 NT
3
North
2
Pass
East
3
!
4
South
Pass
All Pass
Board 4
K 7 2
K J 10 9 8 7
K J 7
2
Trick
1 N
2 S
3 N
4 W
5 W
6 E
7 W
Lead
2
5
J
A
3
10
3
2nd
K
7
4
7
8
5
K
3rd
A
2
2
4
8
A
!
9
4th
3
8
Q
5
6
7
J
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
4 3
A 6 4 3
A Q 3
A 2
J 10 7 3
Q 10 9 8
4
Q 10 8 4
K Q 9 8
Bidding
Play
Defense
Interference over 1 NT
Cue-bid general force
Ruff/discard endplay
Try for a ruff
Read partner’s lead
Play
J 5
6 5 2
9 6 5 3
A 6 5 4
4
West
4 top tricks
North is endplayed
made 4 -620
Practice 3A13
Main
Top
Notrump Auctions
© 1996 Richard Pavlicek