Practice 4B01 Main

Going with the Odds

by Richard Pavlicek

West

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

Rebid by opener
Play for best chance
Heart finesse (50%)
vs 3-3 diamonds (36%) Play

4 2
10 8 4
K 9 7 3 2
A 5 4
3 NT North 8 top tricks Win the rest made 3 +400

West

2
4 North

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

Play

Opening 2 & response
Slam decision
Play for best chance
Transfer ruff
4-3 spade break (62%)
vs heart finesse (50%) Play

J 10 6 5
10 8 7 6 2
5 2
K 3
6 West 10 top tricks Win the rest made 6 -920

West

Pass
All Pass North

3 East

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

Restricted choice
Dummy reversal
When J falls
odds favor the finesse Play

A 9 4 2
A 8 6 5 2
A 9 2
6
4 South 9 top tricks Claim the rest made 7 +510

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

Resp to 1 of a suit
Play for best chance
Finessing technique
Diamond chances (75%)
vs club chances (34%) Play

8 6 5 4
K 10 8 7 3
Q
J 10 7
3 NT East 5 top tricks Cash 4 more winners made 3 -600

Practice 4B05 Main

Top Going with the Odds

Going with the Odds II

West

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

Defense Resp to 1 of a suit
Play for best chance
Unusual squeeze
Diamond ace West (50%)
vs 3-3 hearts (36%)
Unblocking play Play

K 5
K 4
10 8 5 4 3
A K 9 6
3 NT South 7 top tricks Win the rest made 3 +400

West

2
4 North

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

Follow up major raise
Restricted choice
Count hand pattern
When Q falls
odds favor the finesse Play

Q
Q 10 7 6 5
J 8 7
K J 9 3
4 East 6 top tricks Win the rest made 5 -450

West

2 North

Pass East

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

Defense Resp to weak two-bid
Play for best chance
Set up dummy’s suit
4-3 spade break (62%)
vs 3-3 diamonds (36%)
Shift to trumps Play

Q 10 7 4
9 3
Q 10 9 7
A 10 3
4 West 9 top tricks Lose the last trick made 4 -620

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

Defense Opening 2 & response
Play for best chance
Create extra entry
Use dummy’s entry for
greatest advantage
Honor signal Play

6 2
A 8 4
8 7 6 5 4
9 8 4
4 North 9 top tricks Lose 1 more trick made 4 +620

Practice 4B09 Main

Top Going with the Odds

Going with the Odds III

West

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

Play

Defense Rebid by responder
Opener’s third bid
Play for best chance
Play to trick one
Heart (50%), diam (34%)
Hold on to stopper Play

A 2
6 3
A Q 8 6 4
A 5 4 3
3 NT North 7 top tricks Lose the rest made 3 +400

West

2
3 NT North

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

Play

Defense Resp to 1 of a suit
Rebid after 2-over-1
Finessing technique
Double squeeze
Q better odds than 10
Second-hand play Play

Q J 9 7
8 2
J 4 3
K 6 3 2
3 NT West 8 top tricks North is squeezed made 6 -490

West

Pass
Pass
All Pass North

1
3 East

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

Play
Rebid by responder
Follow up major raise
Restricted choice
Combine chances Play

4 2
A K 10 6 4 3
A 4
K 4 3
4 South 9 top tricks Win 1 more trick made 5 +450

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

Play

Rebid by opener
Control-showing bid
Shun finesse
Set up dummy’s suit
Club finesse (50%)
vs 4-3 diamonds (62%) Play

—
Q 10 7 6
Q 10 8 6
J 9 8 3 2
6 East 11 top tricks Claim the rest made 6 -1430

Practice 4B13 Main

Top Going with the Odds

Going with the Odds IV

West

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

Play

Defense Rebid after 1 NT resp
Simple preference bid
Communication/entries
Play for best chance
Honor signal Play

J 5
Q 5 4 3
A 5 4 2
5 3 2
4 North 7 top tricks Win the rest made 5 +450

West

3 North

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

Play

Defense Weak jump response
Choose best game
Restricted choice
Play for best chance
Try to fool declarer Play

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

West

Dbl
4 North

Pass
All Pass East

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

Play

Defense Combat weak two-bid
Resp to takeout double
Placing enemy cards
Automatic squeeze
Passive defense Play

5 4 2
A K J 9 7 6
7 4
7 4
4 East 8 top tricks North is squeezed made 4 -620

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

Play
Resp to 1 of a suit
Rebid by responder
Play for best chance
Show-up finesse Play

J 10 5 4
A
A J 8 2
K 9 4 3
3 NT South 6 top tricks Win the last trick made 4 +630

Practice 4B17 Main

Top Going with the Odds

Going with the Odds V

West

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

Play

Defense Balancing double
Rebid by doubler
Placing enemy cards
Play South for 10-x
or 9-x (not queen)
Choose lead at notrump Play

10 8 7 6 2
9 5
Q 6
10 7 6 2
3 NT West 8 top tricks Lose the rest made 3 -400

West

1
All Pass North

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

Defense
Cope with overcall
Finessing technique
Play for A with bidder
rather than 3-3 hearts
Lead partner’s suit
Overtaking play Play

A 2
A K 7 3 2
K 5 4 3
8 7
3 NT North 7 top tricks Win 2 more tricks made 3 +600

West

Pass North

4 East

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

Defense Response to preempt
Play for best chance
Set up dummy’s suit
4-3 heart break (62%)
vs heart finesse (50%)
Second-hand play Play

K J 8 6 5 4 3
2
6 5
9 7 3
4 South 9 top tricks Win 2 more tricks made 4 +420

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

Play

Defense
Cope with overcall
Follow up major raise
Ruff in short hand
Restricted choice
Attitude signal
Overtaking play Play

J
A 9 7
K Q J 8 7 5
Q 8 3
4 East 8 top tricks Win the rest made 4 -620

Practice 4B21 Main

Top Going with the Odds

Going with the Odds VI

West

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

Set up dummy’s suit
Force out high trump
4-3 break is better
than spade finesse Play

A Q J 8 7
10 5 2
—
A 6 5 4 3
6 North 9 top tricks Dummy is good made 6 +980

West

2
3
4 NT
6 ! North

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

Combine chances
Automatic squeeze
Ruffout K or squeeze
better than finesse Play

Q 6 5
K J 9 4
7 6
A 9 6 5
6 West 9 top tricks South is squeezed made 6 -920

West

Pass North

3 NT East

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

Play for best chance
Finessing technique
Choose diamonds because
of greater solidity Play

K J
A K 2
A J 10 9 2
8 3 2
3 NT South 6 top tricks Cash 4 more winners made 3 +400

WEST
1
2 North
Pass
Pass East
1
4 South
Pass
All Pass Board 4 Q 9 8
7 5 4
10 7
J 10 9 5 4 Trick
1 S
2 E
3 W
4 E
5 E
6 E
7 E
8 W
9 W
10 E
11 E Lead
Q
4
2
K
K
Q
5
A
8
7!
5! 2nd
3
J
9
3
2
6
8
5
9
8
? 3rd
4
A
10!
3
3
4
9!
7!
A
6 4th
K
8
2
Q
7
10
4
J
6
10 W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 0
7 0
8 0
9 0
10 0
A 6 3 2
A 6 3
A 9 4 3
Q 8 Table K 10 7 5 4
K 9 2
K Q 5
A 7
Play
Restricted choice
Positional squeeze Play

J
Q J 10 8
J 8 6 2
K 6 3 2
4 East 10 top tricks South is squeezed made 7 -710

Practice 4B21 Main

Top Going with the Odds