Practice 3J01
Main
Preemptive Bids
by Richard Pavlicek
West
Pass
All Pass
NORTH
3
4
!
East
Pass
Pass
South
3
5
Board 1
—
9 5 4
A J 10 9 8 7 6
10 3 2
Trick
1 E
2 W
3 S
4 N
5 S
6 N
7 N
8 S
9 S
Lead
2
3!
3!
5
5
A
2
A
6
2nd
J
J
10
7
2
5
5
J
K
3rd
A
4!
6
2
7
4
K
9
8
4th
4
K
!
4
3
7
6
6
9
Q
W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 1
6 1
7 1
7 2
K J 10 2
A Q 8 6 3
3
Q 9 6
9 7 4
K 10 7 2
Q 5 4
J 8 5
Bidding
Play
Defense
Response to preempt
Rebid by opener
Set up dummy’s suit
Create extra entry
Shift to trumps
Do not cover honor
Play
A Q 8 6 5 3
J
K 2
A K 7 4
5
North
9 top tricks
Win the rest
made 5 +400
West
Pass!
North
Pass
EAST
3
South
Pass
Board 2
Q 10 9 3
Q 9
A 7 6 2
A 5 4
Trick
1 S
2 N
3 W
4 W
5 E
6 N
7 S
8 E
9 E
10 E
11 E
Lead
J
10
K
8
Q!
3
K
9
7
6
3
2nd
Q
2
2
4
J
8
7
2
9
7
8
3rd
A
6
5
K
4
J
9
3
5
5
K
!
4th
4
A
8
10
A
4
2
5
6
7
9
W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
3 1
3 2
3 3
4 3
5 3
6 3
7 3
8 3
A 7 4
K J 10 5 4
K Q 5 3
8
8 5 2
6 3
4
K Q 9 7 6 3 2
Bidding
Play
Defense
Choose weak opening
Response to preempt
Placing enemy cards
Make declarer guess
Play
K J 6
A 8 7 2
J 10 9 8
J 10
3
East
6 top tricks
Lose 1 more trick
made 3 -110
West
All Pass
North
East
SOUTH
4
!
Board 3
6 3
A K 5
K J 10 4
A Q 6 5
Trick
1 W
2 N
3 W
4 N
5 W
6 S
Lead
Q
10!
J!
J
10
K
2nd
K
2
A
!
3
5
4
3rd
3
3!
8
7
9
3
4th
4
Q
4
A
2
A
W L
1 0
1 1
2 1
2 2
3 2
3 3
5 4
Q J 10 2
A Q 9 6
J 10 2
A 10
9 8 3
8 7 5 3 2
K 9 8
Bidding
Play
Choose weak opening
Slam decision
Loser-on-loser play
Play
K Q J 9 8 7 2
7 6 4
—
7 4 3
4
South
9 top tricks
Win the rest
made 4 +420
WEST
4
!
North
Pass
East
6
South
All Pass
Board 4
Q 9 6 3 2
J 9
J 9
Q 8 5 4
Trick
1 N
2 E
3 E
4 W
5 W
Lead
3
A
!
3
K
3
2nd
K
5
Q
J
4
3rd
4
2
A
4
J!
4th
8
2
9
7
K
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
4 1
8
A K 8 7 6 5 2
6 4 3 2
3
A K
10 4 3
A Q 7 5
A J 10 6
Bidding
Play
Defense
Choose weak opening
Slam decision
Ruff/discard endplay
Choose lead vs slam
Play
J 10 7 5 4
Q
K 10 8
K 9 7 2
6
West
11 top tricks
South is endplayed
made 6 -1430
Practice 3J05
Main
Top
Preemptive Bids
Preemptive Bids II
West
All Pass
NORTH
3
East
Pass
South
3 NT
Board 1
4 3
9 6 4
A Q 10 7 6 5 3
4
Trick
1 W
2 E
3 E
4 S
5 S
6 N
7 N
8 S
9 S
10 S
Lead
7
J
10
K
2
Q
3
K
Q
Q!
2nd
4
5!
A
3
2
9
6
10
8
K
3rd
A
2
8
3
A
2
A
4
5
9
4th
3
6
4
4
8
6
7
8
9
5
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
7 2
7 3
10 7 2
K 10 8 7 2
—
Q 8 7 6 3
J 9 8 6
A J
J 9 8 4
10 9 5
Bidding
Play
Response to preempt
Read enemy lead
Throw-in play
Play
A K Q 5
Q 5 3
K 2
A K J 2
3 NT South
8 top tricks
W endplayed (lose 1)
made 3 +400
West
Pass!
North
Pass
EAST
3
South
Pass
Board 2
K 5
A Q 9 2
9 8
Q J 10 9 6
Trick
1 S
2 N
3 E
4 W
5 W
6 S
7 W
8 E
9 N
10 E
11 E
Lead
4
2
3!
K
2
2!
8
5
Q
Q
J
2nd
6
8
7
8
Q
A
!
9
10
10
3
4
3rd
A
5
A
4
J
5
9
7
K
2
4
4th
3
7
9
6
Q
6
J
K
10
6
9
W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
3 1
3 2
4 2
5 2
5 3
6 3
7 3
8 3
A 7
10 8 7 6
A K 2
K 7 4 2
Q J 10 9 8 6
3
J 5 4 3
8 3
Bidding
Play
Defense
Choose weak opening
Response to preempt
Shun finesse
Ruff in short hand
Shift to trumps
Play
4 3 2
K J 5 4
Q 10 7 6
A 5
3
East
7 top tricks
Win 1 more trick
made 3 -140
West
3
All Pass
North
3
East
Pass
SOUTH
3
4
Board 3
A Q J 7 6 5
A 10 4 3
A 10
J
Trick
1 E
2 N
3 W
4 W
5 N
6 S
7 N
8 S
9 N
Lead
3
J!
K
Q
3
K
4
10
10
2nd
2
9
10
A
6
A
7
6
K
3rd
Q
2
4
5
8
5
9
A
!
10
4th
A
Q
J
2
8
8
J
5
6
W L
1 0
1 1
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
7 2
4
Q J 8
K Q 9 8 7 6
A Q 6
K 3 2
K 9 7 6 5
5 4 3
9 8
Bidding
Play
Choose weak opening
Response to preempt
Set up dummy’s suit
Crossruff
Set up suit or
crossruff (dual threat)
Play
10 9 8
2
J 2
K 10 7 5 4 3 2
4
North
7 top tricks
Concede high trump
made 4 +420
WEST
4
5
North
Pass
Pass
East
4 NT
6
South
Pass
All Pass
Board 4
J 9 4 2
7
10 8 6 3
10 9 8 6
Trick
1 N
2 E
3 E
4 W
5 E
6 W
7 E
8 E
9 E
10 W
Lead
10
A
!
5
4
6
5
K
8
K
2
2nd
A
!
3
Q
7
10
6
2
2
A?
8
3rd
7
7
10
9
J
A
4
5
Q
3
4th
4
2
4
6
9
8
J
3
6
7
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 0
7 0
8 0
9 0
10 0
7
K Q J 10 5 4 2
5 4
Q J 4
A K 8 6 5
A 9 3
K Q J
A 5
Bidding
Play
Choose weak opening
Key-card Blackwood
Shun finesse
Set up dummy’s suit
Play
Q 10 3
8 6
A 9 7 2
K 7 3 2
6
West
10 top tricks
Win the rest
made 7 -1460
Practice 3J09
Main
Top
Preemptive Bids
Preemptive Bids III
West
NORTH
3
!
East
All Pass
South
Board 1
2
K J 8 6 5 4 3
K 10 4
9 2
Trick
1 E
2 E
3 W
4 S
5 N
6 E
7 N
8 W
9 N
10 N
Lead
K
J!
4
2
3
7
5
8
J
8!
2nd
4
Q
9
7
Q
3
3
6
2
?
3rd
7
K
10
K
!
3
8
5
6
7
4th
2
2
A
9
10
4
A
10
9
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
2 3
3 3
3 4
4 4
5 4
J 9 8 7
A 10 7
J 5
K 8 6 4
A K 6 3
Q 9
Q 8 6 2
J 10 7
Bidding
Play
Defense
Choose weak opening
Response to preempt
Placing enemy cards
Read partner’s signal
Shift to another suit
Play
Q 10 5 4
2
A 9 7 3
A Q 5 3
3
North
7 top tricks
East is squeezed
made 3 +140
West
3 NT!
North
All Pass
EAST
3
South
Pass
Board 2
9 7 6
A 10 8 7 5
A 7
Q J 2
Trick
1 N
2 W
3 E
4 N
Lead
7
J
3
9!
2nd
2
7
3
2
3rd
Q
K
!
10
Q
4th
K
Q
A
A
W L
1 0
2 0
2 1
3 1
A J 10 8
K J 4
J 10 2
A K 10
3 2
2
K 9 8 6 5 4 3
9 8 6
Bidding
Play
Defense
Choose weak opening
Response to preempt
Play for only chance
Discard signal
Play
K Q 5 4
Q 9 6 3
Q
7 5 4 3
3 NT West
3 top tricks
Cash 7 more winners
made 4 -430
West
Pass
North
Pass!
East
Pass
SOUTH
4
Board 3
K 3
A 6 4
K 7 6 4
A J 10 3
Trick
1 W
2 E
3 N
4 S
5 E
6 S
7 S
8 S
9 S
10 S
11 S
Lead
5
8
3!
2!
7
A
!
Q
8
7
6
7
2nd
4!
10
10
4
5
9
K
3
10
Q
8
3rd
Q
J
J
10
3
K
4
6
7
K
J
4th
2
A
2
Q
6
4
9
5
9
5
6
W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
7 2
8 2
9 2
2
K J 9 5 3
Q 10 3
K 9 8 4
10 9 4
Q 8 7
A J 9 5
Q 6 5
Bidding
Play
Defense
Choose weak opening
Slam decision
Holdup play
Play for best chance
Choose lead at suit
Protect dummy’s suit
Play
A Q J 8 7 6 5
10 2
8 2
7 2
4
South
9 top tricks
Lose the last trick
made 4 +420
WEST
3
4
North
Pass
All Pass
East
3
!
South
Pass
Board 4
K 10 8 7 6
J 8 2
A J 9 2
8
Trick
1 S
2 E
3 S
4 N
5 E
Lead
Q
4!
6
J?
K
2nd
2
Q
?
4
A
3
3rd
8
9
A
6
5
4th
A
2
Q
10
8
W L
1 0
1 1
1 2
2 2
3 2
2
10 9
7 5 4
A Q 10 9 7 5 3
A 5 4 3
A K 7 5 4 3
Q
K 2
Bidding
Play
Response to preempt
Rebid by opener
Trump management
Ducking play
Play
Q J 9
Q 6
K 10 8 6 3
J 6 4
4
East
9 top tricks
Win the rest
made 5 -650
Practice 3J13
Main
Top
Preemptive Bids
Preemptive Bids IV
West
All Pass
NORTH
3
East
Pass
South
4
!
Board 1
6 5
A Q 9 8 7 6 5
2
8 5 2
Trick
1 E
2 S
3 N
4 S
5 N
6 S
7 N
8 S
9 N
10 W
11 W
Lead
K
4
5
6
6
2
2
8
5!
J
3
2nd
A
7
7
J
10
Q
6
J!
Q
8
8!
3rd
3
5
A
6
K
7
A
Q
3
Q
10
4th
2
5
3
9
8
J
10
10
K
4
7
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 0
7 0
8 0
8 1
8 2
8 3
Q 9 8 3
J 4 3
J 7 3
K J 10
J 10 7
K 10 2
K Q 10 9 5
Q 6
Bidding
Play
Defense
Response to preempt
Choose best game
Play for best chance
Trump endplay
Uppercut
Play
A K 4 2
—
A 8 6 4
A 9 7 4 3
4
North
8 top tricks
East is endplayed
made 4 +420
West
3 NT
North
All Pass
EAST
3
!
South
Pass
Board 2
J 10 9 7 4
A 8 7 6
K 10 9
7
Trick
1 N
2 E
3 W
4 W
5 E
6 E
7 E
8 E
Lead
J
3
K
2
10
8
6
2
2nd
Q
5
6
7
Q!
8
4
Q!
3rd
2
J
!
4
A
4
2
6
A
4th
5
7
9
Q
4
9
7
K!
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 0
7 0
8 0
A K 5
K 3 2
A 7 6 4
K J 2
Q 3
5
8 5 3 2
A 10 8 6 4 3
Bidding
Play
Defense
Choose weak opening
Response to preempt
Avoidance finesse
Honor signal
Unblocking play
Play
8 6 2
Q J 10 9 4
Q J
Q 9 5
3 NT West
6 top tricks
Win 2 more tricks
made 4 -430
West
Pass
Pass
Pass
North
3
4 NT!
6
East
Pass
Pass
All Pass
SOUTH
3
4
5
Board 3
A 9 6 5 4 3
A 5 4
K Q
A 2
Trick
1 W
2 N
3 N
4 S
5 N
6 S
7 N
8 S
9 S
Lead
K
A
!
3
4
4
5
5
A
7
2nd
A
2
Q
8
10
9
6
3
10
3rd
6
8
3
K
J
Q
6
4
5
4th
2
7
10
2
J
4
K
7
9
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 0
7 0
8 0
9 0
K J 10 7
K Q 10 3
9 8
Q 10 8
Q 2
J 9 7 6
10 2
K J 9 6 4
Bidding
Play
Defense
Response to preempt
Slam decision
Picture the stiff spade
Set up dummy’s suit
Use trumps as entries
Uppercut
Play
8
8 2
A J 7 6 5 4 3
7 5 3
6
South
10 top tricks
Lose the last trick
made 6 +920
WEST
Pass
North
Pass
East
4
!
South
All Pass
Board 4
A 10 4
10 9 7 5
8 5 4
K Q 9
Trick
1 S
2 W
3 W
4 W
5 W
6 E
Lead
J
Q
K
Q
2
Q
2nd
A
!
5
5
7
4
7
3rd
4
A!
5
6
K
3
4th
K
6
4
6
7
A
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
5 1
3 2
K Q 3 2
A Q 3 2
8 3 2
K Q J 9 8 6 5
A
K
J 7 6 5
Bidding
Play
Choose weak opening
Tactical third-seat bid
Play to trick one
Jettison play
Play
7
J 8 6 4
J 10 9 7 6
A 10 4
4
East
12 top tricks
Lose 2 more tricks
made 4 -620
Practice 3J17
Main
Top
Preemptive Bids
Preemptive Bids V
West
All Pass
NORTH
3
East
Pass
South
3 NT!
Board 1
9 2
2
A Q 8 7 6 5 2
J 5 4
Trick
1 W
2 S
3 W
4 S
Lead
10
J
7?
3
2nd
2
K
2
3
3rd
J!
2!
Q
A
4th
A
4
K
9
W L
1 0
1 1
2 1
3 1
A 6 5 3
10 9 8 7 5 4
K
6 3
J 10 8 4
Q J 3
10 9 4
Q 10 9
Bidding
Play
Defense
Choose weak opening
Response to preempt
Duck to retain entry
Unblocking play
Play
K Q 7
A K 6
J 3
A K 8 7 2
3 NT South
5 top tricks
Cash 7 more winners
made 4 +430
West
4
!
North
All Pass
EAST
1
South
Pass
Board 2
A
J 10 7 3 2
Q 10 7 5
K 6 5
Trick
1 S
2 E
3 N
4 E
5 S
6 E
7 E
8 W
9 E
10 W
Lead
J
2
5
2
J
A
8
7
Q
Q
2nd
3
3!
A
8
4
5
6
K
K
10
3rd
6
9
2
4!
7
4
4
5
6
8
4th
A
A
3
5
K
2
3
9
7
10
W L
1 0
1 1
2 1
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
7 2
8 2
Q 9 8 6 4
4
6 4 3
Q 7 4 3
J 10 7 5 2
A Q 8
A K 8
A 2
Bidding
Play
Defense
Resp to 1 of a suit
Weak jump raise
Placing enemy cards
Ruff out enemy honor
Read suit layout
Play
K 3
K 9 6 5
J 9 2
J 10 9 8
4
East
7 top tricks
Concede high trump
made 4 -420
West
Pass
Pass
All Pass
North
3
!
5
East
Pass
Pass
SOUTH
1
4 NT
6
Board 3
2
7 6 3
K J 9 8 6 5 2
J 7
Trick
1 E
2 S
3 S
4 S
5 W
Lead
2
A
!
K
4
5!
2nd
K
3
4
A
J
3rd
4
2
J!
2
2
4th
7
5
6
3
3
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
3 1
4 1
J 4 3
K J 9 5
A
Q 10 6 5 4
Q 10 8 6 5
Q 10 8 4 2
10 3
2
Bidding
Play
Defense
Weak jump response
Blackwood convention
Avoid enemy ruff
Try for a ruff
Play
A K 9 7
A
Q 7 4
A K 9 8 3
6
North
11 top tricks
Draw trump and claim
made 6 +920
WEST
3
North
Pass
East
4
!
South
All Pass
Board 4
Q 10 2
K 10
K 8 5 4
J 10 9 2
Trick
1 N
2 E
3 E
4 E
5 W
6 S
7 N
8 W
9 S
10 E
Lead
J
A
K
4!
2!
2
10?
3
3?
8
2nd
A
!
5
9
J
5
6
5
4
8
6
3rd
8
3
4
5
9
K
6
J
10
Q
4th
3
2
10
Q
10
4
7
A
J
8
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
4 1
4 2
5 2
5 3
6 3
7 3
3
A Q 9 8 7 6 5
Q 3 2
4 3
A K 8 7 6 4
J 4
J 9
A Q 5
Bidding
Play
Defense
Choose weak opening
Response to preempt
Shun finesse
Combine chances
Second-hand play
Play
J 9 5
3 2
A 10 7 6
K 8 7 6
4
West
9 top tricks
Claim the rest
made 4 -620
Practice 3J21
Main
Top
Preemptive Bids
Weak Twos & Threes
West
3
NORTH
Pass
Pass
East
3
4
South
3
All Pass
Board 1
J 4
9 7 5
K J 10 6 5
J 8 6
Trick
1 N
2 W
3 N
4 S
5 N
6 W
7 W
Lead
5
5!
6
Q
J
A
K
2nd
2
J
3
9
8
4
7
3rd
10
3
A
K
7
10
2
4th
A
2
2
4
6
9
Q
W L
1 0
1 1
1 2
1 3
2 3
3 3
4 3
A K 8 7 6 5
A 8 6
9 2
K 4
10 3
2
8 4 3
A Q 10 7 5 3 2
Bidding
Play
Defense
Response to preempt
Rebid by opener
Ducking play
Cash out play
Play
Q 9 2
K Q J 10 4 3
A Q 7
9
4
West
9 top tricks
Win the rest
made 4 -420
West
Pass
All Pass
North
2 NT
EAST
Pass
Pass
South
2
3 NT!
Board 2
Q J 4
4 3
A Q 8 7
A K 9 4
Trick
1 E
2 N
3 S
4 E
5 N
6 N
7 S
8 S
9 S
10 N
Lead
6
3
2!
K
A
4
K
Q
3
K
2nd
3
5
10
4
6
6
7
8
8
10
3rd
10
9
!
Q
5
2
A
7
8
J
3
4th
Q
2!
K
A
7
6
8
2
7
J
W L
1 0
2 0
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 1
6 1
7 1
8 1
9 1
A 10 9 8
J 8 7 6 2
10
J 7 5
K 7 6 5
—
K J 9 6 2
Q 10 8 6
Bidding
Play
Defense
Resp to weak two-bid
Rebid by weak bidder
Duck to retain entry
Pursue extra chance
Duck to deny entry
Play
3 2
A K Q 10 9 5
5 4 3
3 2
3 NT North
7 top tricks
Lose the rest
made 3 +600
West
Pass
Pass
North
3
5
East
Pass
All Pass
SOUTH
3
4
Board 3
A Q J 5 4 3
5 2
A K
A K 2
Trick
1 W
2 W
3 E
4 N
5 N
6 S
7 N
8 S
9 N
10 S
11 S
Lead
K
4
7
A
3
6
4
9
5
Q
J!
2nd
2
5
9
7
3
5
4
10
8
Q
?
3rd
9
A
10
2
2
K
7
A
10
J
4th
6
7
A
6
8
3
9
4
10
8
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
7 2
8 2
K 10 9 8 6
K Q 10 4
5
Q 10 8
7
A J 9 8 3
8 4 3
7 6 5 4
Bidding
Play
Response to preempt
Positional squeeze
Play
2
7 6
Q J 10 9 7 6 2
J 9 3
5
South
10 top tricks
West is squeezed
made 5 +400
WEST
2
3
!
North
Pass
All Pass
East
2
South
Pass
Board 4
5 3
Q 10 6 2
K J 6
A 10 9 5
Trick
1 S
2 N
3 E
4 E
5 E
6 W
7 W
Lead
7
3!
A
K
9
A
5
2nd
3
A
!
2
3
10
6
10
3rd
K
2
4
4
Q
3
6
4th
5!
10
6
2
J
7
K
W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 1
5 2
Q 10
A J 9 8 5 4
4 3
K 8 6
A J 9 8 7 6
K
A 9 5
7 4 3
Bidding
Play
Defense
Resp to weak two-bid
Rebid by weak bidder
Holdup play
Shun finesse
Shift to trumps
Play
K 4 2
7 3
Q 10 8 7 2
Q J 2
3
East
8 top tricks
Lose 2 more tricks
made 3 -140
Practice 3J21
Main
Top
Preemptive Bids
© 1994 Richard Pavlicek