Practice 4K01
Main
Third Hand Play
by Richard Pavlicek
West
Pass
NORTH
1
3
East
Pass
All Pass
South
2
Board 1
A 8 7 6 3 2
A 3
Q 3
K Q 10
Trick
1 E
2 N
3 S
4 W
5 N
6 N
7 E
8 W
9 E
Lead
4
Q
10
9!
A
2
5
8!
A
2nd
6
2
A
K
J
K
Q
10
6
3rd
7!
K
3
7!
4
5
K
J
3
4th
A
4!
6
2
Q
9
3
4
Q
W L
1 0
2 0
2 1
3 1
4 1
4 2
4 3
4 4
4 5
Q
K 10 7 2
A 9 8 5 4
9 8 3
K J
J 8 5 4
7 6 2
A J 7 5
Bidding
Play
Defense
Follow up major raise
Deceptive play
Rule of eleven
Duck to retain tenace
Play
10 9 5 4
Q 9 6
K J 10
6 4 2
3
North
6 top tricks
Claim the rest
down 1 -50
West
1
4
North
Pass
All Pass
EAST
1
1 NT
South
Pass
Pass
Board 2
5
8 7 6 5 4
K 10 9 5
8 5 3
Trick
1 N
2 E
3 E
4 W
5 S
6 E
7 W
8 S
Lead
5
Q
4
2
8!
J
4
7
2nd
Q
2
9
3
3
9
5
Q
3rd
2!
3
K
J
5!
A
9
K
4th
3
5
4
Q
J
6
10
A
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
3 1
4 1
5 1
5 2
6 2
A K 8 7 6 3
A 3
Q 4 3
4 2
Q 4
Q J 10
A J 2
K J 9 7 6
Bidding
Defense
Rebid by opener
Rebid by responder
Third-hand play
Attack dummy’s entry
Play
J 10 9 2
K 9 2
8 7 6
A Q 10
4
West
9 top tricks
Lose 2 more tricks
down 1 +50
West
Pass
North
3 NT
East
All Pass
SOUTH
1 NT
Board 3
K 7 4
5 2
Q J 9 3
A 10 9 8
Trick
1 W
2 E
3 E
4 N
5 S
6 E
7 W
8 E
Lead
Q
10
2
3
Q
5
10
6
2nd
2
6
3
4
3
Q?
7
8
3rd
K
!
4
8!
K
8
A
J
!
7
4th
3
5
K
6
K
4
9
9
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
2 3
2 4
2 5
2 6
A 10 8
Q J 9 7 4
10 8 6
4 3
J 6 5 2
K 10
7 5 4
K 7 5 2
Bidding
Defense
Response to 1 NT
Overtaking play
Finesse vs declarer
Play
Q 9 3
A 8 6 3
A K 2
Q J 6
3 NT South
6 top tricks
Claim the rest
down 2 -100
WEST
Pass
3
North
Pass
Pass
East
1
4
South
Pass
All Pass
Board 4
J 5 4 3
Q
K 9 8 6
A 10 8 4
Trick
1 S
2 E
3 N
4 S
5 E
6 E
7 W
8 E
9 S
Lead
2
2
4
5
A
3
J
4!
Q!
2nd
3
7
J
4
10
6
K
K
3rd
8!
K
Q
9!
3
5
2
7
4th
Q
A
5
A
Q
8
7
6
W L
1 0
1 1
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
5 3
A 10 8
J 9 7 5 3
J 4 3
K 5
K 7 6
A 8 6 4 2
A Q
J 3 2
Bidding
Play
Defense
Passed hand response
Follow up major raise
Elimination technique
Ruff/discard endplay
Finesse against dummy
Shift to proper card
Play
Q 9 2
K 10
10 7 5 2
Q 9 7 6
4
East
8 top tricks
Lose 1 more trick
down 1 +100
Practice 4K05
Main
Top
Third Hand Play
Third Hand Play II
West
Pass
All Pass
NORTH
Pass
2 NT
East
Pass
Pass
South
1 NT
3 NT
Board 1
10 6 3
Q 4 3 2
J 6 2
A Q 3
Trick
1 W
2 W
3 E
4 N
5 S
6 S
7 E
8 N
Lead
Q
8
8!
2
A
8
5
4
2nd
3
6
2
5
7
9
4
6
3rd
4!
K
9!
J
3
Q
10
J
4th
2
7
Q
6
10
K
A
5
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
3 3
4 3
5 3
Q J 9 8 5
9 7 6
10 8
K 10 9
K 4
K 10 5
Q 9 7 4
8 7 6 5
Bidding
Defense
Response to 1 NT
Do not unblock
Third-hand play
Play
A 7 2
A J 8
A K 5 3
J 4 2
3 NT South
5 top tricks
Lose 2 more tricks
down 1 -50
West
3
North
Pass
EAST
1
4
South
Pass
All Pass
Board 2
A
Q 9 4
A 10 7 6
10 9 7 5 3
Trick
1 S
2 E
3 N
4 W
5 E
6 E
7 E
8 S
Lead
2
5
Q!
2
Q
!
A
7
3!
2nd
5
9
3
3
2
6
J
2
3rd
9!
Q
6
K
4
K
10
10!
4th
K
A
A
J
5
7
4
Q
W L
1 0
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 1
5 2
6 2
Q 8 4 3 2
A 10 5
K 5 2
K 4
K 10 7 6 5
K 7 3
Q 9 4
A Q
Bidding
Defense
Resp to 1 of a suit
Third-hand play
Avoid endplay
Play
J 9
J 8 6 2
J 8 3
J 8 6 2
4
East
8 top tricks
Lose 2 more tricks
down 1 +50
West
1 NT
2
North
Pass
Pass
East
2
3
SOUTH
Pass
Pass
All Pass
Board 3
4 2
J 7 6
A 6 5
K 8 7 6 3
Trick
1 N
2 W
3 E
4 S
5 E
6 N
7 W
8 W
9 S
10 N
Lead
4
2
3
J
4
2
Q
5
10
5
2nd
3
7
K
2
5
9
J
3
K
8
3rd
6!
A
5
6!
Q
10
4
7
A
9
4th
J
9
6
Q
K
A
7
8
4
3
W L
1 0
2 0
2 1
3 1
3 2
4 2
5 2
5 3
5 4
5 5
A J 5
Q 8 5 2
K 3 2
A Q 2
Q 9 7 3
A 10 4 3
Q 8 4
10 4
Bidding
Defense
Stayman convention
Third-hand play
Read partner’s lead
Play
K 10 8 6
K 9
J 10 9 7
J 9 5
3
West
5 top tricks
Win the rest
down 1 +100
WEST
Pass
Pass
North
1
4
East
Pass
All Pass
South
3
Board 4
A J 8 6 2
K 9 7
A 6
6 5 3
Trick
1 E
2 S
3 E
4 N
5 N
6 S
7 N
8 S
9 S
10 E
Lead
3
Q
2
A
6
Q
3
A
2!
2
2nd
9
5
10
5
8
K
4
7
9!
4
3rd
4!
2
7!
7
9
8
K
5
6
J!
4th
6
K
A
3
4
J
10
8
J
K
W L
1 0
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 1
6 1
7 1
7 2
8 2
5 4 3
A J 8
K 7 4
Q 10 9 7
K
10 6 3 2
J 8 5 3 2
J 8 4
Bidding
Defense
Resp to 1 of a suit
Third-hand play
Avoid endplay
Play
Q 10 9 7
Q 5 4
Q 10 9
A K 2
4
North
7 top tricks
Lose 2 more tricks
down 1 -100
Practice 4K09
Main
Top
Third Hand Play
Third Hand Play III
West
Dbl
All Pass
NORTH
1
Pass
East
Pass
3
South
2
3
Board 1
Q J 10 9 3
K 4 3
Q 9
A Q 8
Trick
1 E
2 N
3 W
4 S
5 N
6 N
7 S
8 E
9 W
10 E
Lead
5
Q
J
J
Q
8
6
J!
8
6
2nd
4
5!
3
K!
6
9
7
K
K
5
3rd
10
2
7!
A
3
4
J
A
A
9
4th
Q
A
Q
5
2
4
K
9
2
4
W L
1 0
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 1
5 2
5 3
5 4
5 5
A
J 10 9 8
A 10 3
K 10 7 4 2
K 5
A 7 6
J 8 7 5 2
9 6 5
Bidding
Play
Defense
Competitive auction
Elimination technique
Finesse against dummy
Finesse vs declarer
Play
8 7 6 4 2
Q 5 2
K 6 4
J 3
3
North
4 top tricks
Claim the rest
down 1 -50
West
1
North
Pass
EAST
Pass
2 NT
South
Pass
All Pass
Board 2
J 10
K 9 7 6
10 7 6 2
K Q 4
Trick
1 S
2 E
3 N
4 N
5 W
6 E
7 N
8 S
9 N
Lead
2
J
J
2!
2
10
6
8
7
2nd
4
3
3
9
7
7
Q?
5
8
3rd
10
5
6
J!
Q
6
A
10
8
4th
K
Q
5
K
4
K
4
3
7
W L
1 0
1 1
1 2
2 2
3 2
3 3
3 4
3 5
3 6
A 7 5 4
J 5 2
K 5 4
A 6 5
K 8 3
A Q 3
Q 9 3
J 10 9 2
Bidding
Play
Defense
Passed hand response
Finessing technique
Shift to safe suit
Finesse vs declarer
Play
Q 9 6 2
10 8 4
A J 8
8 7 3
2 NT East
4 top tricks
Win the rest
down 1 +50
West
1
Pass
North
2
3
East
2
3
SOUTH
1
Pass
All Pass
Board 3
3
10 5 2
9 8 7 4
A J 10 6 2
Trick
1 N
2 W
3 S
4 E
5 W
6 E
7 W
8 S
9 S
10 N
Lead
2
5
8
Q
8
4
J
J
3
J
2nd
3
3
9
K!
10
9
4
6
K
5
3rd
9!
Q
10!
A
2
K
2
6
A
6
4th
J
A
Q
5
4
2
K
10
4
7
W L
1 0
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 1
5 2
5 3
5 4
5 5
K 8 7 6 5
A J 8
J 6
K 9 7
Q 10 4 2
Q 3
A 10 5 2
Q 5 4
Bidding
Defense
Resp to suit overcall
Competitive auction
Finesse against dummy
Finesse vs declarer
Play
A J 9
K 9 7 6 4
K Q 3
8 3
3
West
6 top tricks
Claim the rest
down 1 +100
WEST
Pass
Pass
All Pass
North
1
2
East
Pass
Pass
South
1
4
Board 4
K 8 6 2
K 10 4
A 9 4
K J 4
Trick
1 W
2 S
3 S
4 S
5 S
6 E
7 N
8 S
9 N
10 S
11 W
12 E
Lead
2
Q
J
10
10
6
4
3
4
8
6
A
2nd
4
4
5
3
Q!
2
7
7
Q!
J
10
7
3rd
8!
2
6
8
K
5
9
A
K
9
J
9
4th
Q
5
3
7
A
J
9
5
2
10
3
K
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
4 1
5 1
6 1
7 1
8 1
8 2
8 3
8 4
4
9 6 5 2
J 7 6 2
Q 9 5 3
7 5 3
A J 8
Q 10 5
A 8 7 6
Bidding
Play
Defense
Opening one-bid
Follow up major raise
Elimination technique
Finesse against dummy
Unblocking play
Play
A Q J 10 9
Q 7 3
K 8 3
10 2
4
South
7 top tricks
Win the last trick
down 1 -100
Practice 4K13
Main
Top
Third Hand Play
Third Hand Play IV
West
All Pass
NORTH
1 NT
East
Pass
South
3 NT
Board 1
K 7
K 4 3
Q J 8 2
A K 8 4
Trick
1 E
2 N
3 N
4 W
5 S
6 E
7 W
8 W
Lead
3
J
2
J
6
5
9
7
2nd
4
3
2
3
2
J
4!
K
3rd
8!
4
K
6!
4
Q
5
A
4th
K
7
A
Q
9
7
2
8
W L
1 0
2 0
2 1
3 1
3 2
3 3
3 4
3 5
Q 8 6
J 10 9 7
A 9 7 6
Q 2
10 9 5 3 2
A 6 5
3
J 9 5 3
Bidding
Play
Defense
Response to 1 NT
Read enemy tactics
Finesse against dummy
Finesse vs declarer
Play
A J 4
Q 8 2
K 10 5 4
10 7 6
3 NT North
4 top tricks
Win the rest
down 1 -50
West
2
North
Pass
EAST
1
4
South
Pass
All Pass
Board 2
K 7 2
2
9 8 7 3 2
A 10 3 2
Trick
1 S
2 W
3 W
4 E
5 E
6 W
7 E
8 E
9 E
10 S
Lead
4
K
3
A
10
J
A
K
5
6
2nd
Q
2
2
3
5
K
J
6
Q
4
3rd
2!
4
A
8
Q
9
4
6
6
10!
4th
9
8
J
7
3
5
7
8
9
K
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 0
7 0
8 0
8 1
9 1
Q J 8
K 7 6 3
Q 6 4
Q 7 4
A 9
A 10 9 5 4
A K 10
K 9 5
Bidding
Play
Defense
Follow up major raise
Elimination technique
Ruff/discard endplay
Place high cards
Finesse against dummy
Play
10 6 5 4 3
Q J 8
J 5
J 8 6
4
East
9 top tricks
Lose 2 more tricks
made 4 -420
West
Pass
All Pass
North
3
East
Pass
SOUTH
1
4
Board 3
Q 5 4 3
A J 4
K 8 7
K 4 3
Trick
1 W
2 E
3 N
4 N
5 S
6 S
7 S
8 N
9 S
10 W
11 S
Lead
5
K
Q
3
A
A
2
4
9!
6!
2
2nd
4
7
2
10
8
5
7
9
Q
7
5!
3rd
10
!
2
6
K
4
3
K
7
J
10
8?
4th
3
A
8
6
J
6
8
10
J
Q
J
W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 1
6 1
7 1
7 2
8 2
8 3
8
Q 8 6 5 2
A 6 5
Q 10 7 5
J 10 2
K 10
J 10 4 3
J 9 8 6
Bidding
Play
Defense
Resp to 1 of a suit
Elimination technique
Ruff/discard endplay
Finesse against dummy
Make declarer guess
Play
A K 9 7 6
9 7 3
Q 9 2
A 2
4
South
8 top tricks
Lose 1 more trick
down 1 -50
WEST
1 NT
3 NT
North
Pass
All Pass
East
3
South
Pass
Board 4
6 5 4
5 4
Q 7 3 2
K 7 6 5
Trick
1 N
2 E
3 W
4 E
5 W
6 S
7 W
8 W
9 N
10 S
11 W
Lead
6
4
8
5
6
K
J
6
5
7
8
2nd
Q
K
5
2
4
A
7!
Q
7
9
6!
3rd
8!
A
Q
10
J
4
8
9
10
5
10
4th
2
3
3
2!
K
J
9
3
3
10
J
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
4 1
5 1
6 1
6 2
6 3
7 3
7 4
A 9 3 2
8 6
A J 10 6
A Q 8
Q J
A Q J 10 7
9 8 5 4
10 2
Bidding
Defense
Opening one-bid
Response to 1 NT
Read partner’s lead
Duck to deny entry
Play
K 10 8 7
K 9 3 2
K
J 9 4 3
3 NT West
5 top tricks
Lose 1 more trick
down 1 +100
Practice 4K17
Main
Top
Third Hand Play
Third Hand Play V
West
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
NORTH
2
3
4 NT
5 NT
6
East
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
All Pass
South
2 NT
4
5
6
Board 1
A K Q J 9 8
K 10
A J 9
A 2
Trick
1 E
2 N
3 N
4 N
5 N
6 N
7 N
8 N
Lead
4
A
K
Q
J
!
9
8
A
2nd
5
3
3
7
8
J
8
6
3rd
6!
2
6
10
2
3
5
9
4th
A
5
4
7
4!
7!
K!
10
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 0
7 0
8 0
7 5 4
9 8 4 3
K 7 4
K 10 6
3
J 6 5
Q 10 8 6
J 8 7 4 3
Bidding
Defense
Opening 2
& response
Blackwood convention
Rule of eleven
Choose discard
Play
10 6 2
A Q 7 2
5 3 2
Q 9 5
6
North
11 top tricks
Lose 2 tricks
down 1 -50
West
3
5 NT
North
Pass
Pass
EAST
2 NT
3
6 NT
South
Pass
Pass
All Pass
Board 2
10 9 7 5
Q 7 4
J 9 3
Q 9 3
Trick
1 S
2 E
3 E
4 W
5 E
6 E
7 W
8 W
9 E
10 W
Lead
4
K
2
10
Q
7
K
6
4
3
2nd
5
4
10
Q!
2
6
7
5
7
7
3rd
9!
5
A
K
6
8
2
A
Q
J
4th
A
3
9
5
J
4
3
J
9
6
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 0
7 0
8 0
9 0
10 0
K Q 8 6
10 3
A 8 6 5
K 10 5
A 4 2
A K J 2
K Q 7 2
A 8
Bidding
Play
Defense
Opening 2 NT & response
Slam decision
Finessing technique
Third-hand play
When to cover honor
Play
J 3
9 8 6 5
10 4
J 7 6 4 2
6 NT East
10 top tricks
Lose 1 trick
made 6 -990
West
Pass
Pass
North
1
3 NT
East
Pass
All Pass
SOUTH
1
2 NT
Board 3
A 4
J 10 3
10 8 5 4 3
Q 10 8
Trick
1 W
2 E
3 S
4 N
5 W
6 N
7 W
8 W
Lead
7
9!
4
3
2
4
K
5
2nd
3
Q
5
6
A
7
5
8
3rd
A
6!
10
J
3
K
7
8
4th
2
4
8
Q
10
A
J
9
W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
2 2
3 2
3 3
3 4
3 5
K 6 5 2
7 6 5
A Q 2
7 6 5
9 8 7 3
A 9 8
7 6
J 9 4 2
Bidding
Play
Defense
Rebid by opener
Rebid by responder
Set up suit at notrump
Finessing technique
Read partner’s lead
Shift to another suit
Play
Q J 10
K Q 4 2
K J 9
A K 3
3 NT South
4 top tricks
Claim the rest
down 1 -50
WEST
1
4
North
Pass
All Pass
East
2
South
Pass
Board 4
10 4
8 6 2
J 8 7 4
A J 6 5
Trick
1 N
2 E
3 W
4 W
5 W
6 S
7 E
8 N
9 N
Lead
4
2
K
Q
Q
10!
3
J
5
2nd
6
7
10
2
6
2
7
8
4
3rd
3!
A
3
8
3
6!
Q
9
5
4th
2
4
5
6
K
K
A
4
9
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
4 1
5 1
5 2
5 3
6 3
A K Q J 9
Q J
A 9 2
Q 4 2
8 3 2
A 9 4 3
Q 10 6
K 8 3
Bidding
Defense
Resp to 1 of a suit
Follow up major raise
Third-hand play
Attack dummy’s entry
Play
7 6 5
K 10 7 5
K 5 3
10 9 7
4
West
7 top tricks
Lose 1 more trick
down 1 +100
Practice 4K17
Main
Top
Third Hand Play
© 1994 Richard Pavlicek