Practice 4M01   Main


Defensive Trump Tactics


  by Richard Pavlicek


West

1 S
Dbl
3 S
NORTH
1 D
2 H
Pass
All Pass
East
Pass
Pass
2 S
South
1 H
Pass
3 H
Board 1 S Q 10
H K J 7 3
D K Q J 10 7
C Q 5
Trick
1 N
2 S
3 N
4 S
Lead
D K
D 2
D J
H 4!
2nd
3
9
6
Q
3rd
A
10
S J!
K
4th
4
5
C 2!
A
W L
0 1
0 2
0 3
1 3
S A K 9 7 5 4
H Q 9
D 9 4
C A K 2
TableS 8 6 2
H A 5
D 8 6 5 3
C 8 6 4 3
Bidding
 
Defense
 
 
 
Belated T/O double
Competitive auction
Uppercut
Attack dummy’s entry
If defense errs
West can win 10 tricks
 Play

 
S J 3
H 10 8 6 4 2
D A 2
C J 10 9 7
3 S West8 top tricksLose 1 more trickmade 3 -140


West

Pass
Pass
All Pass
North

2 NT
3 H
EAST
Pass
Pass
Pass
South
1 H
3 C
4 H
Board 2 S K 4 3
H 8 6 3
D A K 7 6
C K 8 4
Trick
1 W
2 W
3 W
4 S
5 S
6 S
7 N
8 S
Lead
S Q
S J!
S 2
H K
H Q
C J
C 4
C 10
2nd
3
4
K
4!
5!
2
6
H 7!
3rd
8
6
A
3
6
K!
A
8
4th
5
10
H 9
2
S 7
3
5
7
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
5 3
S Q J 9 2
H A 7 5 4
D 9 3 2
C 5 2
TableS A 8 7 6
H 2
D Q 10 8 5
C 9 7 6 3
Bidding
Play
Defense
 
Resp to 1 of a suit
Deceptive play
Continue proper card
Duck to keep control
 Play

 
S 10 5
H K Q J 10 9
D J 4
C A Q J 10
4 H South10 top tricksConcede high trumpdown 1 -100


West

1 C
2 S
North

1 H
Pass
East

1 S
4 S
SOUTH
Pass
Pass
All Pass
Board 3 S 4
H A Q 7 6 5
D Q J 10 5
C J 10 9
Trick
1 S
2 N
3 W
4 E
5 E
6 W
7 N
8 N
Lead
H 10
C J!
S 3
S K
S 6
H 4!
C 10
C 9
2nd
J
2
4
2
9
A!
6
Q
3rd
Q
5
A
8
10
8
4
K
4th
2
A
5
H 5
D 5
3
3
7
W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
4 2
4 3
4 4
S J 10 8 3
H K J 9 4
D A 6
C A 7 3
TableS A K Q 7 6
H 8 2
D K 9 3
C Q 6 2
Bidding
Play
Defense
 
Cope with overcall
Try to steal a trick
Postpone try for ruff
Shift to correct suit
 Play

 
S 9 5 2
H 10 3
D 8 7 4 2
C K 8 5 4
4 S East8 top tricksWin the restdown 1 +100


WEST
1 H
Pass
North
1 S
3 S
East
Pass
All Pass
South
2 S
Board 4 S A K J 10 8
H K 7 2
D 7 2
C K J 3
Trick
1 E
2 N
3 N
4 W
5 S
6 W
7 W
Lead
H 4
S A
D 2
H Q
C 2
H J
H 10
2nd
3
4
10
2
A!
7
S J
3rd
9
3
K
C 6!
3
C 9
C Q!
4th
K
2
A
A
8
5
8
W L
1 0
2 0
2 1
3 1
3 2
3 3
4 3
S 2
H Q J 10 9 6
D A J 3
C A 10 5 4
TableS Q 9 5 4
H 4
D 10 9 8 6
C Q 9 8 6
Bidding
Defense
 
Resp to suit overcall
Don’t ruff a loser
Do not overruff
 Play

 
S 7 6 3
H A 8 5 3
D K Q 5 4
C 7 2
3 S North6 top tricksLose 2 trump tricksdown 1 -100



Practice 4M05   MainTop   Defensive Trump Tactics

Defensive Trump Tactics II


West

1 S
2 S
All Pass
NORTH
1 C
2 C
Pass
East
Pass
Pass
Pass
South
1 H
Pass
3 C
Board 1 S 10 2
H Q 4
D A J 3
C A Q J 9 7 3
Trick
1 E
2 W
3 W
4 N
5 S
6 S
7 N
8 E
9 W
Lead
S Q
S A
S J!
D 3
C 10
C 5
C 9
H J
S 8!
2nd
3
10
C Q
8
2
D 4
K
2
3rd
K
D 6
D 7!
Q
3
A
D 10
A!
4th
2
4
5
2
4
6
S 6
4
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
4 3
4 4
S A K J 9 8 6
H A 6 5
D 5 4 2
C 2
TableS Q
H J 10 9 8
D 9 8 7 6
C K 8 6 4
Bidding
 
Play
Defense
 
Cope with overcall
Competitive auction
Avert overruff
Overtaking play
Do not overruff
 Play

 
S 7 5 4 3
H K 7 3 2
D K Q 10
C 10 5
3 C North8 top tricksLose 1 more trickdown 1 -50


West

1 H
3 H
North

2 D
Pass
EAST
1 C
Pass
4 H
South
Pass
Pass
All Pass
Board 2 S Q J 6
H K 9 4
D A K 10 8 7 3
C 2
Trick
1 N
2 N
3 N
4 W
5 E
6 N
Lead
D K
D A
D 3!
S 3
H 2
D 7!
2nd
4
5
S 2
6
3
C 8
3rd
2
6
9
K
J
H Q!
4th
J
Q
H 5
5
K
H A
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
2 3
3 3
S 7 4 3
H A J 10 8 6 5
D Q J
C A 10
TableS A K 8 2
H 7 2
D 5 4
C K Q J 9 8
Bidding
 
Defense
 
Cope with overcall
Rebid by responder
Place high cards
Uppercut
 Play

 
S 10 9 5
H Q 3
D 9 6 2
C 7 6 5 4 3
4 H West11 top tricksLose 1 more trickdown 1 +50


West

2 D
All Pass
North

4 H
East

4 S
SOUTH
1 H
Dbl
Board 3 S 6 2
H J 9 8 5 2
D 6 3
C Q 9 8 7
Trick
1 S
2 E
3 W
4 W
5 S
6 E
7 E
8 S
9 W
10 N
Lead
H K
S 5
D K
D Q
H Q
S Q
S J
C K!
C 5
C 7!
2nd
4
3!
6
3
6
4
A
A
Q
S 8
3rd
2
K
2
5
5
C 2
C 4
9
10
S 9
4th
A
2
4!
A
S 7
6
H 8
3
6
J
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
3 1
4 1
5 1
5 2
6 2
6 3
6 4
S K
H 6 4
D K Q J 10 8
C A J 5 4 2
TableS Q J 10 8 7 5
H A
D 9 7 5 2
C 10 3
Bidding
 
Play
Defense
 
Weak jump raise
Penalty double
Timing the play
When to win trump ace
Trump promotion
 Play

 
S A 9 4 3
H K Q 10 7 3
D A 4
C K 6
4 S× East7 top tricksWin the restdown 1 +200


WEST
Pass
Pass
Pass
All Pass
North
1 C
1 S
2 H
East
Pass
Pass
Pass
South
1 H
2 D1
4 H
Board 4 S A J 9 2
H K Q 9
D 7 4 2
C K 8 3
Trick
1 W
2 S
3 N
4 S
5 N
6 W
7 E
8 N
Lead
D J
H 3
D 4
H 4
D 7
D 10
S 3!
S 2
2nd
2
J
C 2!
D 8
C 6!
H 9
7
10
3rd
K
Q
Q
K
5
H 10
Q
H 5
4th
A
2
3
8
9
6
A
5
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
4 1
4 2
5 2
6 2
S Q 8 6 5
H J
D J 10 9 8 3
C Q 10 5
TableS K 10 4 3
H 10 8 2
D K
C A 9 7 6 2
Note 1
Bidding
Defense
 
fourth suit forcing
Opener’s third bid
Don’t ruff a loser
Shift to correct suit
 Play

 
S 7
H A 7 6 5 4 3
D A Q 6 5
C J 4
4 H South9 top tricksLose 2 more tricksdown 1 -100



Practice 4M09   MainTop   Defensive Trump Tactics

Defensive Trump Tactics III


West

2 NT
NORTH
2 H
Pass
East
2 S
4 S
South
Pass
All Pass
Board 1 S Q
H A K J 8 6 4
D 10 8 5 3
C 6 2
Trick
1 S
2 N
3 N
4 E
5 E
6 E
7 S
Lead
H 10
H A
H K
S A
S K
S 9
C K!
2nd
5
9
S 10
2
6
J
9
3rd
J
3
D 7!
3
4
C 3
6
4th
2
7
Q
Q
H 4
C 2
A
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
3 3
4 3
S 4 3
H Q 7 5
D A Q 6 4
C J 10 9 3
TableS A K 10 9 7 5
H 9 2
D K J 2
C A 4
Bidding
Defense
 
Combat weak two-bid
Do not overruff
Trump promotion
 Play

 
S J 8 6 2
H 10 3
D 9 7
C K Q 8 7 5
4 S East10 top tricksLose 2 more tricksdown 2 +100


West

All Pass
North
EAST
4 H
South
4 S
Board 2 S A 5
H J 9 8
D Q 8 6 3
C K 8 7 4
Trick
1 W
2 E
3 E
4 S
5 N
Lead
H 3
H K
H Q
S 4
S 5
2nd
8
5
S Q!
7
H 2
3rd
10
D 2
D 9!
A
10
4th
4
9
J
3
K
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
2 3
S K 9 7 2
H 3
D 10 9 2
C Q J 10 9 6
TableS 3
H A K Q 10 7 6 2
D 7 5 4
C 3 2
Bidding
Play
 
Defense
 
Combat preempt
Avert overruff
Shun finesse
Do not overruff
Trump promotion
 Play

 
S Q J 10 8 6 4
H 5 4
D A K J
C A 5
4 S South11 top tricksLose 1 more trickdown 1 -100


West

Pass
1 S
4 S
North

Pass
Pass
All Pass
East

Dbl
3 S
SOUTH
1 H
Pass
Pass
Board 3 S J 3
H 9 8 2
D 10 9 8 5
C J 10 8 3
Trick
1 N
2 S
3 S
4 W
5 S
Lead
H 2
H A
H 10!
S 5
H 7!
2nd
3
J
S 4
3
C 4
3rd
K
8
9
Q
S J!
4th
4
Q
D 6
A
S K
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
1 3
2 3
S 9 8 6 5 4
H J 4
D K 2
C K 9 5 4
TableS K Q 7 2
H Q 3
D A Q J 7 6
C A Q
Bidding
Play
Defense
Balancing double
Lead toward honor
Uppercut
 Play

 
S A 10
H A K 10 7 6 5
D 4 3
C 7 6 2
4 S West10 top tricksConcede high trumpdown 1 +100


WEST
1 H
2 C
All Pass
North
Pass
2 S
East
1 NT
3 C
South
Dbl
3 S
Board 4 S K J 8 5 4
H J 10 9 4
D 3 2
C 8 6
Trick
1 E
2 W
3 E
Lead
H 3
H 2!
C J!
2nd
5
4
A
3rd
Q
S 7
7
4th
J
6
6
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
S 3
H A Q 8 7 2
D J 7 4
C K Q 7 3
TableS 10 7 6
H 3
D K Q 9 5
C J 10 9 4 2
Bidding
 
Defense
 
Rebid after 1 NT resp
Competitive auction
Read partner’s lead
Timing the defense

 
S A Q 9 2
H K 6 5
D A 10 8 6
C A 5
3 S North7 top tricksLose 3 more tricksdown 1 -100



Practice 4M13   MainTop   Defensive Trump Tactics

Defensive Trump Tactics IV


West
NORTH
1 S
East
2 C
South
All Pass
Board 1 S A J 10 7 5
H 9 8
D A K 3
C 6 4 3
Trick
1 S
2 N
3 N
4 S
5 N
6 E
7 E
Lead
S 3
D K!
D 3!
D 2
S 5
C A
C K
2nd
2
7
8
6
C J
2
5
3rd
A
Q!
10
A
H 3!
S 6
H 2
4th
Q
4
5
9
4
3
4
W L
0 1
0 2
0 3
0 4
1 4
2 4
3 4
S K 9 8 6 4 2
H K Q 7 2
D 6 5 4
C
TableS Q
H A J 5
D 9 8 7
C A K J 10 8 7
Bidding
Defense
 
Resp to suit overcall
Honor signal
Trump promotion
 Play

 
S 3
H 10 6 4 3
D Q J 10 2
C Q 9 5 2
2 C East9 top tricksLose 2 trump tricksdown 1 +50


West

Pass
All Pass
North

1 S
EAST
Pass
Pass
South
1 D
4 S
Board 2 S K 8 5 4
H K J 2
D 6 4 3
C 9 7 3
Trick
1 E
2 N
3 W
4 S
5 S
6 S
7 S
8 E
9 E
10 S
11 S
Lead
S Q
D 3
S 9!
D Q
D J
D 10
H 4
S J!
C 5!
C K
C 2
2nd
2
7
4
5
8
9
5
6
A
Q
H 7
3rd
3
K
10
4
6
C 3
J
H 6
4
9
S 8
4th
K
A
A
2
H 3!
H 10!
Q
5
7
6
10
W L
1 0
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 1
5 2
5 3
6 3
7 3
8 3
S 9 3
H 9 8 7 6 5
D A 9 8 5
C Q 4
TableS Q J 10
H A Q 10 3
D 7 2
C J 10 6 5
Bidding
Defense
 
Rebid by opener
Refuse to ruff
Choose discard
 Play

 
S A 7 6 2
H 4
D K Q J 10
C A K 8 2
4 S North5 top tricksLose 1 more trickdown 1 -100


West

1 S
All Pass
North

2 H
East

Pass
SOUTH
1 H
4 H
Board 3 S 8 6 5 3
H 7 6 5
D A 5 3
C Q J 3
Trick
1 W
2 W
3 W
4 E
Lead
S K
S A
S 10
D 9!
2nd
3
5
6
10
3rd
7
4
H J!
J
4th
2
J
D 6!
A
W L
0 1
0 2
0 3
1 3
S A K Q 10 9
H 10 9 3
D K J 4
C 10 5
TableS 7 4
H J 2
D 9 8 7 2
C 9 8 7 4 2
Bidding
Defense
 
Cope with overcall
Uppercut
Break up squeeze
 Play

 
S J 2
H A K Q 8 4
D Q 10 6
C A K 6
4 H South9 top tricksLose 1 more trickdown 1 -50


WEST
1 NT
2 S
North
Pass
Pass
East
2 C
4 S
South
2 H
All Pass
Board 4 S 5
H 7 6 5 4
D J 10 9 2
C 9 7 6 5
Trick
1 N
2 S
3 S
4 E
5 W
6 E
7 W
Lead
H 4
H A
H J!
S 7
S J
C 2!
C 8
2nd
3
Q
C 4
2
C 5
3
7
3rd
K
5
6
Q
K
A
K
4th
2
8
S 3
5
4!
6
S 6
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
4 3
S Q J 10 8
H Q 2
D A K 7 6
C A 8 4
TableS K 9 7 3
H 8 3
D Q 8
C K Q J 10 2
Bidding
 
Defense
 
Stayman convention
Cope with overcall
Make declarer ruff
Duck to keep control
 Play

 
S A 6 4 2
H A K J 10 9
D 5 4 3
C 3
4 S West11 top tricksConcede high trumpdown 1 +100



Practice 4M17   MainTop   Defensive Trump Tactics

Defensive Trump Tactics V


West

2 D
3 D
NORTH
Pass
2 H
3 H
East
1 C
Pass
All Pass
South
2 C
Pass
Board 1 S Q 2
H K 7 3 2
D 5 3 2
C K 9 8 2
Trick
1 E
2 E
3 E
4 W
Lead
D K
C A!
D 4
D 7
2nd
6
4
Q
5
3rd
J
6
A
H J!
4th
2
2
3
H A
W L
0 1
0 2
0 3
1 3
S 8 7
H Q 9
D A J 10 9 8 7
C Q 10 6
TableS A 6 5 3
H J 5
D K 4
C A J 7 5 3
Bidding
 
Defense
 
Michaels cue-bid
Competitive auction
Cash out play
Uppercut
 Play

 
S K J 10 9 4
H A 10 8 6 4
D Q 6
C 4
3 H North4 top tricksLose 2 more tricksdown 1 -50


West

3 C
North

All Pass
EAST
1 C
South
1 H
Board 2 S J 10 9 8 3
H 10 4
D J 9 8 4
C J 4
Trick
1 S
2 S
3 S
4 S
5 S
Lead
H K
H A
H Q
D A
H 3!
2nd
2
5
9
2
S 4
3rd
10
4
S 3
4
C J!
4th
6
7
J
3
C K
W L
0 1
0 2
0 3
0 4
1 4
S 5 4
H 9 5 2
D K Q 2
C A Q 5 3 2
TableS A K Q 2
H J 7 6
D 10 7 3
C K 9 7
Bidding
Defense
Limit raise
Uppercut
 Play

 
S 7 6
H A K Q 8 3
D A 6 5
C 10 8 6
3 C East8 top tricksLose 1 trump trickdown 1 +50


West

Pass
Pass
North

2 NT
4 H
East

Pass
All Pass
SOUTH
2 H
3 S
Board 3 S K J 8 4
H J 8 4
D A K J 8
C 9 4
Trick
1 W
2 E
3 N
4 W
5 W
6 S
7 S
8 N
9 N
10 S
Lead
C Q
H 10!
C 9
H A!
H 5
H K
D 5
D K
D 8
H Q
2nd
4
3
2!
4
8
C 5
2
3
9
S 3
3rd
K!
2
7
C 6
C A!
S 4
A
6
H 7
D J
4th
3
J
10
6
9
S 2
4
7
10
D Q
W L
0 1
1 1
1 2
1 3
2 3
3 3
4 3
5 3
6 3
7 3
S 9 5 3
H A 5 2
D 10 7 2
C Q J 10 5
TableS Q 10 7 2
H 10
D Q 9 4 3
C A K 6 2
Bidding
 
Play
Defense
 
Resp to weak two-bid
Showing a feature
Combine chances
Overtaking play
Shift to trumps
 Play

 
S A 6
H K Q 9 7 6 3
D 6 5
C 8 7 3
4 H South9 top tricksLose 1 more trickdown 1 -50


WEST
2 S
3 S
North
Pass
All Pass
East
2 NT
South
Pass
Board 4 S K 8 4 3
H Q 10 7
D 9 2
C A K 8 4
Trick
1 N
2 N
3 W
4 E
5 E
6 N
7 S
8 W
9 W
10 W
11 S
Lead
C K
C A
H 4
S Q
S 7
C 4
C 9
S A
S J
D J
C 5
2nd
2
6
7
2
D 3
7
S 10
4
8
2
D 7
3rd
10
3
A
6
9
Q
8
H 3
H 8
6
D 9
4th
J
S 5
6
3!
K!
H 5!
H 2
D 4
D 5
A
D Q
W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
3 1
3 2
3 3
4 3
5 3
6 3
6 4
6 5
S A J 10 9 6 5
H 9 5 4
D J 10 7
C J
TableS Q 7
H A K 8 3 2
D K Q 6
C 7 6 2
Bidding
Play
Defense
 
Resp to weak two-bid
Avoid tap, shed loser
Make declarer ruff
Hold up trump winner
 Play

 
S 2
H J 6
D A 8 5 4 3
C Q 10 9 5 3
3 S West7 top tricksWin the restdown 1 +100



Practice 4M21   MainTop   Defensive Trump Tactics

Defensive Trump Tactics VI


West

4 H
NORTH
3 D
All Pass
East
3 H
South
Pass
Board 1 S 8 7 6
H 3
D A Q 10 9 7 5 4
C 6 4
Trick
1 S
2 N
3 N
4 E
5 E
6 W
Lead
D K
D Q
D 10
H A
S 3
H 6
2nd
3
8
H J
2
2
D 4
3rd
A!
C 2!
C 5!
5
Q
4th
2
6
J
3
6
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
S A Q J
H 7 6 5
D J 6 3
C K J 9 3
TableS 10 9 3
H A K J 10 8
D 8 2
C A 10 7
Bidding
Defense
 
Combat preempt
Overtaking play
Do not overruff
 Play

 
S K 5 4 2
H Q 9 4 2
D K
C Q 8 5 2
4 H East7 top tricksLose 2 trump tricksdown 1 +50


West

Pass
Pass
Pass
North

1 H
2 C1
4 H
EAST
Pass
Pass
Pass
All Pass
South
1 D
1 NT
2 H
Board 2 S 6 5 4
H K J 10 9 7
D Q 8 2
C A K
Trick
1 E
2 W
3 N
4 W
5 E
6 N
7 N
Lead
S 10
H 3!
S 5
H 5
H 6!
H J
H 10
2nd
J
7
2
9
Q
S 8
D 5
3rd
Q
2!
K
A
S 3
C 3
C 4
4th
4
4
A
8
K
S 7
C 8!
W L
0 1
1 1
1 2
1 3
2 3
3 3
4 3
S A Q 7 3
H 5 3
D 10 6 4 3
C Q J 8
TableS 10 9 8 2
H A 6 2
D J 5
C 10 9 6 2
Note 1
Bidding
Play
Defense
 
new minor forcing
Opener’s third bid
Pseudo squeeze
Shift to trumps
When to win trump ace
 Play

 
S K J
H Q 8 4
D A K 9 7
C 7 5 4 3
4 H North9 top tricksLose 1 more trickdown 1 -100


West

Pass
Pass
North

2 C
4 S
East

2 D
All Pass
SOUTH
1 S
2 S
Board 3 S Q 2
H K Q 7 2
D K 3
C K Q 8 7 2
Trick
1 W
2 E
3 E
4 S
5 N
6 S
7 E
Lead
D 4
D A
D 10!
H 4
S 2
S 6
D 5!
2nd
3
J
S 4
3
3
5
S 9
3rd
Q
6
8
Q
J
Q
S 10
4th
2
K
C 2
5
8
A
H 2
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
3 3
3 4
S 10 8 5
H 10 9 3
D 8 6 4
C J 10 9 3
TableS A 3
H J 8 6 5
D A Q 10 9 7 5
C 6
Bidding
 
Play
Defense
 
Rebid by opener
Rebid by responder
Lead toward honor
Place high cards
Trump promotion
 Play

 
S K J 9 7 6 4
H A 4
D J 2
C A 5 4
4 S South11 top tricksWin the restdown 1 -50


WEST
Pass
1 S
North
Pass
Pass
East
1 C
4 S
South
1 D
All Pass
Board 4 S 2
H J 10 9 8 5
D 9 5
C 10 9 7 6 3
Trick
1 N
2 S
3 S
4 E
5 E
6 E
7 W
8 E
9 E
10 E
Lead
D 9
D K
D 6!
S K
S Q
C 5
D J
H A
H K
C Q
2nd
2
4
10
3!
4!
2
C 7
2
6
S 5
3rd
Q
5
S 2
6
7
A
S 10
3
C 4
8
4th
3
8
S 8
H 5
C 3
6
7
8
9
9
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
7 2
7 3
S J 9 7 6
H 3
D J 10 4 3
C A J 8 4
TableS K Q 10 8
H A K Q 4
D 8 2
C K Q 5
Bidding
 
Defense
 
Cope with overcall
Rebid by opener
Read suit layout
When to win trump ace
 Play

 
S A 5 4 3
H 7 6 2
D A K Q 7 6
C 2
4 S West10 top tricksConcede high trumpdown 1 +100


Practice 4M21   MainTop   Defensive Trump Tactics

© 1994 Richard Pavlicek