Practice 4M01
Main
Defensive Trump Tactics
by Richard Pavlicek
West
1
Dbl
3
NORTH
1
2
Pass
All Pass
East
Pass
Pass
2
South
1
Pass
3
Board 1
Q 10
K J 7 3
K Q J 10 7
Q 5
Trick
1 N
2 S
3 N
4 S
Lead
K
2
J
4!
2nd
3
9
6
Q
3rd
A
10
J
!
K
4th
4
5
2!
A
W L
0 1
0 2
0 3
1 3
A K 9 7 5 4
Q 9
9 4
A K 2
8 6 2
A 5
8 6 5 3
8 6 4 3
Bidding
Defense
Belated T/O double
Competitive auction
Uppercut
Attack dummys entry
If defense errs
West can win 10 tricks
Play
J 3
10 8 6 4 2
A 2
J 10 9 7
3
West
8 top tricks
Lose 1 more trick
made 3 -140
West
Pass
Pass
All Pass
North
2 NT
3
EAST
Pass
Pass
Pass
South
1
3
4
Board 2
K 4 3
8 6 3
A K 7 6
K 8 4
Trick
1 W
2 W
3 W
4 S
5 S
6 S
7 N
8 S
Lead
Q
J
!
2
K
Q
J
4
10
2nd
3
4
K
4!
5!
2
6
7
!
3rd
8
6
A
3
6
K
!
A
8
4th
5
10
9
2
7
3
5
7
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
5 3
Q J 9 2
A 7 5 4
9 3 2
5 2
A 8 7 6
2
Q 10 8 5
9 7 6 3
Bidding
Play
Defense
Resp to 1 of a suit
Deceptive play
Continue proper card
Duck to keep control
Play
10 5
K Q J 10 9
J 4
A Q J 10
4
South
10 top tricks
Concede high trump
down 1 -100
West
1
2
North
1
Pass
East
1
4
SOUTH
Pass
Pass
All Pass
Board 3
4
A Q 7 6 5
Q J 10 5
J 10 9
Trick
1 S
2 N
3 W
4 E
5 E
6 W
7 N
8 N
Lead
10
J!
3
K
6
4!
10
9
2nd
J
2
4
2
9
A
!
6
Q
3rd
Q
5
A
8
10
8
4
K
4th
2
A
5
5
5
3
3
7
W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
4 2
4 3
4 4
J 10 8 3
K J 9 4
A 6
A 7 3
A K Q 7 6
8 2
K 9 3
Q 6 2
Bidding
Play
Defense
Cope with overcall
Try to steal a trick
Postpone try for ruff
Shift to correct suit
Play
9 5 2
10 3
8 7 4 2
K 8 5 4
4
East
8 top tricks
Win the rest
down 1 +100
WEST
1
Pass
North
1
3
East
Pass
All Pass
South
2
Board 4
A K J 10 8
K 7 2
7 2
K J 3
Trick
1 E
2 N
3 N
4 W
5 S
6 W
7 W
Lead
4
A
2
Q
2
J
10
2nd
3
4
10
2
A
!
7
J
3rd
9
3
K
6!
3
9
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
2
Q J 10 9 6
A J 3
A 10 5 4
Q 9 5 4
4
10 9 8 6
Q 9 8 6
Bidding
Defense
Resp to suit overcall
Dont ruff a loser
Do not overruff
Play
7 6 3
A 8 5 3
K Q 5 4
7 2
3
North
6 top tricks
Lose 2 trump tricks
down 1 -100
Practice 4M05
Main
Top
Defensive Trump Tactics
Defensive Trump Tactics II
West
1
2
All Pass
NORTH
1
2
Pass
East
Pass
Pass
Pass
South
1
Pass
3
Board 1
10 2
Q 4
A J 3
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
Q
A
J!
3
10
5
9
J
8!
2nd
3
10
Q
8
2
4
K
2
3rd
K
6
7!
Q
3
A
10
A
!
4th
2
4
5
2
4
6
6
4
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
4 3
4 4
A K J 9 8 6
A 6 5
5 4 2
2
Q
J 10 9 8
9 8 7 6
K 8 6 4
Bidding
Play
Defense
Cope with overcall
Competitive auction
Avert overruff
Overtaking play
Do not overruff
Play
7 5 4 3
K 7 3 2
K Q 10
10 5
3
North
8 top tricks
Lose 1 more trick
down 1 -50
West
1
3
North
2
Pass
EAST
1
Pass
4
South
Pass
Pass
All Pass
Board 2
Q J 6
K 9 4
A K 10 8 7 3
2
Trick
1 N
2 N
3 N
4 W
5 E
6 N
Lead
K
A
3!
3
2
7!
2nd
4
5
2
6
3
8
3rd
2
6
9
K
J
Q!
4th
J
Q
5
5
K
A
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
2 3
3 3
7 4 3
A J 10 8 6 5
Q J
A 10
A K 8 2
7 2
5 4
K Q J 9 8
Bidding
Defense
Cope with overcall
Rebid by responder
Place high cards
Uppercut
Play
10 9 5
Q 3
9 6 2
7 6 5 4 3
4
West
11 top tricks
Lose 1 more trick
down 1 +50
West
2
All Pass
North
4
East
4
SOUTH
1
Dbl
Board 3
6 2
J 9 8 5 2
6 3
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
K
5
K
Q
Q
Q
J
K!
5
7!
2nd
4
3!
6
3
6
4
A
A
Q
8
3rd
2
K
2
5
5
2
4
9
10
9
4th
A
2
4!
A
7
6
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
K
6 4
K Q J 10 8
A J 5 4 2
Q J 10 8 7 5
A
9 7 5 2
10 3
Bidding
Play
Defense
Weak jump raise
Penalty double
Timing the play
When to win trump ace
Trump promotion
Play
A 9 4 3
K Q 10 7 3
A 4
K 6
4
× East
7 top tricks
Win the rest
down 1 +200
WEST
Pass
Pass
Pass
All Pass
North
1
1
2
East
Pass
Pass
Pass
South
1
2
1
4
Board 4
A J 9 2
K Q 9
7 4 2
K 8 3
Trick
1 W
2 S
3 N
4 S
5 N
6 W
7 E
8 N
Lead
J
3
4
4
7
10
3!
2
2nd
2
J
2!
8
6!
9
7
10
3rd
K
Q
Q
K
5
10
Q
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
Q 8 6 5
J
J 10 9 8 3
Q 10 5
K 10 4 3
10 8 2
K
A 9 7 6 2
Note 1
Bidding
Defense
fourth suit forcing
Openers third bid
Dont ruff a loser
Shift to correct suit
Play
7
A 7 6 5 4 3
A Q 6 5
J 4
4
South
9 top tricks
Lose 2 more tricks
down 1 -100
Practice 4M09
Main
Top
Defensive Trump Tactics
Defensive Trump Tactics III
West
2 NT
NORTH
2
Pass
East
2
4
South
Pass
All Pass
Board 1
Q
A K J 8 6 4
10 8 5 3
6 2
Trick
1 S
2 N
3 N
4 E
5 E
6 E
7 S
Lead
10
A
K
A
K
9
K!
2nd
5
9
10
2
6
J
9
3rd
J
3
7!
3
4
3
6
4th
2
7
Q
Q
4
2
A
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
3 3
4 3
4 3
Q 7 5
A Q 6 4
J 10 9 3
A K 10 9 7 5
9 2
K J 2
A 4
Bidding
Defense
Combat weak two-bid
Do not overruff
Trump promotion
Play
J 8 6 2
10 3
9 7
K Q 8 7 5
4
East
10 top tricks
Lose 2 more tricks
down 2 +100
West
All Pass
North
EAST
4
South
4
Board 2
A 5
J 9 8
Q 8 6 3
K 8 7 4
Trick
1 W
2 E
3 E
4 S
5 N
Lead
3
K
Q
4
5
2nd
8
5
Q
!
7
2
3rd
10
2
9!
A
10
4th
4
9
J
3
K
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
2 3
K 9 7 2
3
10 9 2
Q J 10 9 6
3
A K Q 10 7 6 2
7 5 4
3 2
Bidding
Play
Defense
Combat preempt
Avert overruff
Shun finesse
Do not overruff
Trump promotion
Play
Q J 10 8 6 4
5 4
A K J
A 5
4
South
11 top tricks
Lose 1 more trick
down 1 -100
West
Pass
1
4
North
Pass
Pass
All Pass
East
Dbl
3
SOUTH
1
Pass
Pass
Board 3
J 3
9 8 2
10 9 8 5
J 10 8 3
Trick
1 N
2 S
3 S
4 W
5 S
Lead
2
A
10!
5
7!
2nd
3
J
4
3
4
3rd
K
8
9
Q
J!
4th
4
Q
6
A
K
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
1 3
2 3
9 8 6 5 4
J 4
K 2
K 9 5 4
K Q 7 2
Q 3
A Q J 7 6
A Q
Bidding
Play
Defense
Balancing double
Lead toward honor
Uppercut
Play
A 10
A K 10 7 6 5
4 3
7 6 2
4
West
10 top tricks
Concede high trump
down 1 +100
WEST
1
2
All Pass
North
Pass
2
East
1 NT
3
South
Dbl
3
Board 4
K J 8 5 4
J 10 9 4
3 2
8 6
Trick
1 E
2 W
3 E
Lead
3
2!
J!
2nd
5
4
A
3rd
Q
7
7
4th
J
6
6
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
3
A Q 8 7 2
J 7 4
K Q 7 3
10 7 6
3
K Q 9 5
J 10 9 4 2
Bidding
Defense
Rebid after 1 NT resp
Competitive auction
Read partners lead
Timing the defense
A Q 9 2
K 6 5
A 10 8 6
A 5
3
North
7 top tricks
Lose 3 more tricks
down 1 -100
Practice 4M13
Main
Top
Defensive Trump Tactics
Defensive Trump Tactics IV
West
NORTH
1
East
2
South
All Pass
Board 1
A J 10 7 5
9 8
A K 3
6 4 3
Trick
1 S
2 N
3 N
4 S
5 N
6 E
7 E
Lead
3
K
!
3!
2
5
A
K
2nd
2
7
8
6
J
2
5
3rd
A
Q!
10
A
3!
6
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
K 9 8 6 4 2
K Q 7 2
6 5 4
Q
A J 5
9 8 7
A K J 10 8 7
Bidding
Defense
Resp to suit overcall
Honor signal
Trump promotion
Play
3
10 6 4 3
Q J 10 2
Q 9 5 2
2
East
9 top tricks
Lose 2 trump tricks
down 1 +50
West
Pass
All Pass
North
1
EAST
Pass
Pass
South
1
4
Board 2
K 8 5 4
K J 2
6 4 3
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
Q
3
9!
Q
J
10
4
J
!
5!
K
2
2nd
2
7
4
5
8
9
5
6
A
Q
7
3rd
3
K
10
4
6
3
J
6
4
9
8
4th
K
A
A
2
3!
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
9 3
9 8 7 6 5
A 9 8 5
Q 4
Q J 10
A Q 10 3
7 2
J 10 6 5
Bidding
Defense
Rebid by opener
Refuse to ruff
Choose discard
Play
A 7 6 2
4
K Q J 10
A K 8 2
4
North
5 top tricks
Lose 1 more trick
down 1 -100
West
1
All Pass
North
2
East
Pass
SOUTH
1
4
Board 3
8 6 5 3
7 6 5
A 5 3
Q J 3
Trick
1 W
2 W
3 W
4 E
Lead
K
A
10
9!
2nd
3
5
6
10
3rd
7
4
J
!
J
4th
2
J
6!
A
W L
0 1
0 2
0 3
1 3
A K Q 10 9
10 9 3
K J 4
10 5
7 4
J 2
9 8 7 2
9 8 7 4 2
Bidding
Defense
Cope with overcall
Uppercut
Break up squeeze
Play
J 2
A K Q 8 4
Q 10 6
A K 6
4
South
9 top tricks
Lose 1 more trick
down 1 -50
WEST
1 NT
2
North
Pass
Pass
East
2
4
South
2
All Pass
Board 4
5
7 6 5 4
J 10 9 2
9 7 6 5
Trick
1 N
2 S
3 S
4 E
5 W
6 E
7 W
Lead
4
A
J!
7
J
2!
8
2nd
3
Q
4
2
5
3
7
3rd
K
5
6
Q
K
A
K
4th
2
8
3
5
4!
6
6
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
4 3
Q J 10 8
Q 2
A K 7 6
A 8 4
K 9 7 3
8 3
Q 8
K Q J 10 2
Bidding
Defense
Stayman convention
Cope with overcall
Make declarer ruff
Duck to keep control
Play
A 6 4 2
A K J 10 9
5 4 3
3
4
West
11 top tricks
Concede high trump
down 1 +100
Practice 4M17
Main
Top
Defensive Trump Tactics
Defensive Trump Tactics V
West
2
3
NORTH
Pass
2
3
East
1
Pass
All Pass
South
2
Pass
Board 1
Q 2
K 7 3 2
5 3 2
K 9 8 2
Trick
1 E
2 E
3 E
4 W
Lead
K
A
!
4
7
2nd
6
4
Q
5
3rd
J
6
A
J!
4th
2
2
3
A
W L
0 1
0 2
0 3
1 3
8 7
Q 9
A J 10 9 8 7
Q 10 6
A 6 5 3
J 5
K 4
A J 7 5 3
Bidding
Defense
Michaels cue-bid
Competitive auction
Cash out play
Uppercut
Play
K J 10 9 4
A 10 8 6 4
Q 6
4
3
North
4 top tricks
Lose 2 more tricks
down 1 -50
West
3
North
All Pass
EAST
1
South
1
Board 2
J 10 9 8 3
10 4
J 9 8 4
J 4
Trick
1 S
2 S
3 S
4 S
5 S
Lead
K
A
Q
A
3!
2nd
2
5
9
2
4
3rd
10
4
3
4
J!
4th
6
7
J
3
K
W L
0 1
0 2
0 3
0 4
1 4
5 4
9 5 2
K Q 2
A Q 5 3 2
A K Q 2
J 7 6
10 7 3
K 9 7
Bidding
Defense
Limit raise
Uppercut
Play
7 6
A K Q 8 3
A 6 5
10 8 6
3
East
8 top tricks
Lose 1 trump trick
down 1 +50
West
Pass
Pass
North
2 NT
4
East
Pass
All Pass
SOUTH
2
3
Board 3
K J 8 4
J 8 4
A K J 8
9 4
Trick
1 W
2 E
3 N
4 W
5 W
6 S
7 S
8 N
9 N
10 S
Lead
Q
10!
9
A
!
5
K
5
K
8
Q
2nd
4
3
2!
4
8
5
2
3
9
3
3rd
K
!
2
7
6
A!
4
A
6
7
J
4th
3
J
10
6
9
2
4
7
10
Q
W L
0 1
1 1
1 2
1 3
2 3
3 3
4 3
5 3
6 3
7 3
9 5 3
A 5 2
10 7 2
Q J 10 5
Q 10 7 2
10
Q 9 4 3
A K 6 2
Bidding
Play
Defense
Resp to weak two-bid
Showing a feature
Combine chances
Overtaking play
Shift to trumps
Play
A 6
K Q 9 7 6 3
6 5
8 7 3
4
South
9 top tricks
Lose 1 more trick
down 1 -50
WEST
2
3
North
Pass
All Pass
East
2 NT
South
Pass
Board 4
K 8 4 3
Q 10 7
9 2
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
K
A
4
Q
7
4
9
A
J
J
5
2nd
2
6
7
2
3
7
10
4
8
2
7
3rd
10
3
A
6
9
Q
8
3
8
6
9
4th
J
5
6
3!
K
!
5!
2
4
5
A
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
A J 10 9 6 5
9 5 4
J 10 7
J
Q 7
A K 8 3 2
K Q 6
7 6 2
Bidding
Play
Defense
Resp to weak two-bid
Avoid tap, shed loser
Make declarer ruff
Hold up trump winner
Play
2
J 6
A 8 5 4 3
Q 10 9 5 3
3
West
7 top tricks
Win the rest
down 1 +100
Practice 4M21
Main
Top
Defensive Trump Tactics
Defensive Trump Tactics VI
West
4
NORTH
3
All Pass
East
3
South
Pass
Board 1
8 7 6
3
A Q 10 9 7 5 4
6 4
Trick
1 S
2 N
3 N
4 E
5 E
6 W
Lead
K
Q
10
A
3
6
2nd
3
8
J
2
2
4
3rd
A
!
2!
5!
5
Q
4th
2
6
J
3
6
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
A Q J
7 6 5
J 6 3
K J 9 3
10 9 3
A K J 10 8
8 2
A 10 7
Bidding
Defense
Combat preempt
Overtaking play
Do not overruff
Play
K 5 4 2
Q 9 4 2
K
Q 8 5 2
4
East
7 top tricks
Lose 2 trump tricks
down 1 +50
West
Pass
Pass
Pass
North
1
2
1
4
EAST
Pass
Pass
Pass
All Pass
South
1
1 NT
2
Board 2
6 5 4
K J 10 9 7
Q 8 2
A K
Trick
1 E
2 W
3 N
4 W
5 E
6 N
7 N
Lead
10
3!
5
5
6!
J
10
2nd
J
7
2
9
Q
8
5
3rd
Q
2!
K
A
3
3
4
4th
4
4
A
8
K
7
8!
W L
0 1
1 1
1 2
1 3
2 3
3 3
4 3
A Q 7 3
5 3
10 6 4 3
Q J 8
10 9 8 2
A 6 2
J 5
10 9 6 2
Note 1
Bidding
Play
Defense
new minor forcing
Openers third bid
Pseudo squeeze
Shift to trumps
When to win trump ace
Play
K J
Q 8 4
A K 9 7
7 5 4 3
4
North
9 top tricks
Lose 1 more trick
down 1 -100
West
Pass
Pass
North
2
4
East
2
All Pass
SOUTH
1
2
Board 3
Q 2
K Q 7 2
K 3
K Q 8 7 2
Trick
1 W
2 E
3 E
4 S
5 N
6 S
7 E
Lead
4
A
10!
4
2
6
5!
2nd
3
J
4
3
3
5
9
3rd
Q
6
8
Q
J
Q
10
4th
2
K
2
5
8
A
2
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
3 3
3 4
10 8 5
10 9 3
8 6 4
J 10 9 3
A 3
J 8 6 5
A Q 10 9 7 5
6
Bidding
Play
Defense
Rebid by opener
Rebid by responder
Lead toward honor
Place high cards
Trump promotion
Play
K J 9 7 6 4
A 4
J 2
A 5 4
4
South
11 top tricks
Win the rest
down 1 -50
WEST
Pass
1
North
Pass
Pass
East
1
4
South
1
All Pass
Board 4
2
J 10 9 8 5
9 5
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
9
K
6!
K
Q
5
J
A
K
Q
2nd
2
4
10
3!
4!
2
7
2
6
5
3rd
Q
5
2
6
7
A
10
3
4
8
4th
3
8
8
5
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
J 9 7 6
3
J 10 4 3
A J 8 4
K Q 10 8
A K Q 4
8 2
K Q 5
Bidding
Defense
Cope with overcall
Rebid by opener
Read suit layout
When to win trump ace
Play
A 5 4 3
7 6 2
A K Q 7 6
2
4
West
10 top tricks
Concede high trump
down 1 +100
Practice 4M21
Main
Top
Defensive Trump Tactics
© 1994 Richard Pavlicek