Practice 5F01
Main
Combating Weak Openings
by Richard Pavlicek
West
4
!
NORTH
3
All Pass
East
Dbl
South
Pass
Board 1
8
A K 7 6 5 3 2
7 2
10 8 2
Trick
1 N
2 N
3 N
4 E
5 E
6 W
7 W
Lead
K
A
5
J
!
2
A
3
2nd
8
9
K
!
3
4
3
2
3rd
Q
6
4
5
9
7
9!
4th
4
10
J
8
2
Q
10
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
4 3
A 10 9 6 5
J 10 4
4 3
A 5 3
K J 7 2
9 8
A Q 9 5
K J 6
Bidding
Play
Defense
Combat preempt
Resp to takeout double
Avert overruff
Throw-in play
Try for an overruff
Play
Q 4 3
Q
K J 10 8 6
Q 9 7 4
4
West
7 top tricks
South is endplayed
made 4 -420
West
Pass
All Pass
North
3
EAST
2
Pass
South
2
!
4
Board 2
Q
A 8 7 6 4 3
A 9 6
Q 4 3
Trick
1 E
2 N
3 S
4 S
5 S
6 N
7 S
8 W
9 S
Lead
K
3
A
!
J
!
2
6
10
J!
8
2nd
3
2
4
6
K
5
9
Q
10
3rd
J
K
Q
6!
4
Q
9
K
3
4th
A
2
5
7
9
5
7
A
5
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 0
6 1
7 1
7 2
K 6 4
J 10 9 5 2
J 8
J 10 8
9 7 5
K Q 10 7 5 2
K 9 7 5
Bidding
Play
Defense
Combat weak two-bid
Resp to suit overcall
Ruffing finesse
Survive bad break
Attack dummys entry
Play
A J 10 8 3 2
K Q
4 3
A 6 2
4
North
9 top tricks
Lose 1 more trick
made 4 +620
West
Pass
4
!
North
3
All Pass
East
3
SOUTH
Pass
Pass
Board 3
4 2
4 3
J 10 4
A Q 10 9 8 3
Trick
1 S
2 N
3 N
4 S
5 E
6 W
7 E
8 E
9 E
10 E
Lead
K
Q
9
J
5
7
Q
8
Q
6!
2nd
4
J
10
5
3
4
7
8
8
?
3rd
A
!
2
J
3
K
A
2
7
6
4th
2
5
6
A
2
9
3
8
4
W L
0 1
0 2
0 3
1 3
2 3
3 3
4 3
5 3
6 3
K 7
K 7 6 5
A 3 2
7 6 5 4
A Q 10 8 6 5
A Q
Q 6 5
J 2
Bidding
Play
Defense
Combat preempt
Resp to suit overcall
Positional squeeze
Overtaking play
Trump promotion
Play
J 9 3
J 10 9 8 2
K 9 8 7
K
4
East
10 top tricks
South is squeezed
made 4 -620
WEST
2
Pass
All Pass
North
Dbl
3
!
East
Pass
Pass
South
2
3 NT
Board 4
A Q 2
Q 4
A K 3
A J 10 9 8
Trick
1 W
2 W
3 N
4 N
5 N
6 S
7 E
Lead
J
Q!
A
Q
2
Q
J
2nd
4!
K
7
9
10
3
8
3rd
2
8
5
6
K
8
4
4th
3!
2
3
4
6
K
3
W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
4 2
4 3
4 3
A J 10 9 7 6
Q J 9
4 3
J 10 9 7
5 2
10 8 7
K 7 6 2
Bidding
Play
Defense
Combat weak two-bid
Rebid by doubler
Holdup play
Shift to another suit
Play
K 8 6 5
K 8 3
6 5 4 2
Q 5
3 NT South
6 top tricks
Lose 1 more trick
made 3 +600
Practice 5F05
Main
Top
Combating Weak Openings
Combating Weak Openings II
West
4
!
NORTH
3
All Pass
East
Dbl
South
Pass
Board 1
3 2
6 5 2
5
A K 8 6 5 3 2
Trick
1 N
2 N
3 N
4 W
5 W
6 E
7 W
8 S
9 E
10 E
11 W
Lead
K
A
5
Q
8
4
3
J
A
!
6
9!
2nd
4
J
2
2
5
J
2
4
J
7
5
3rd
9
Q
9
10
K
A
6!
2
4
Q
7
4th
7
10
K
3
7
6
10
K
3
3
?
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
4 3
5 3
6 3
7 3
0 0
Q 5 4
A Q 9 8
K 8 4 3
10 7
A K 8 6
K 10 4
A 7 6 2
J 4
Bidding
Play
Defense
Combat preempt
Resp to takeout double
Ducking play
Automatic squeeze
Try for a ruff
Play
J 10 9 7
J 7 3
Q J 10 9
Q 9
4
West
8 top tricks
South is squeezed
made 4 -420
West
Pass
All Pass
North
3
EAST
2
Pass
South
Dbl
3 NT!
Board 2
6 3 2
4 3
K 10 9 5 4
J 9 3
Trick
1 W
2 E
3 S
4 W
5 E
6 S
7 N
8 E
9 S
10 N
Lead
7
2!
Q
7
6
5
3!
Q
10
K
2nd
2
K
A
4
A
2
A
K
8
6
3rd
9
!
8
4
J
10
9
8
6
J
9
4th
4!
3
3
5!
5
4
5
6
7
2
W L
0 1
1 1
1 2
1 3
2 3
3 3
3 4
4 4
5 4
6 4
7 5
Q 10 8 7
A J 7 2
8 6 2
A Q J 10 9
J 6 2
8 6 3
7 4
Bidding
Play
Defense
Combat weak two-bid
Rebid by doubler
Holdup play
Communication/entries
Duck to retain entry
Shift to another suit
Play
K 8 4
A K 9 5
Q
A K Q 10 5
3 NT South
7 top tricks
Win the rest
made 3 +600
West
3
!
4
North
Pass
All Pass
East
3
SOUTH
2
Pass
Board 3
K 8
6 2
Q 10 9 4 2
J 10 9 5
Trick
1 S
2 W
3 E
4 W
5 E
6 W
7 E
8 E
Lead
3
5!
5
6
7
8
A
6
2nd
K
10
4
9
3
Q
8
2
3rd
4
9
K
10
J
Q
2
A
4th
7
7
2
3
6
5
2
5
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 0
7 0
8 0
9 2
K J
A K J 8 6 5
A 4 3
J 10 4
A Q 10 9 7 5
7
Q 7 6
Bidding
Play
Defense
Combat weak two-bid
Resp to suit overcall
Read enemy lead
Set up dummys suit
Try for a ruff
Play
A Q 7 6 5 3
8 4 3
3
K 8 2
4
East
9 top tricks
Cash 2 more winners
made 4 -620
WEST
3
Pass
Pass
Pass
North
3
!
4 NT
5 NT
6
East
Pass
Pass
Pass
All Pass
South
4
5
6
Board 4
K Q J 10 2
A J 5
Q
K 8 7 6
Trick
1 E
2 S
3 N
4 S
5 N
6 N
7 N
8 S
Lead
3
3
2
8
J
K
6
5!
2nd
A
4
10
6
4
2
9
K
3rd
J
K
A
Q
2
3
Q
7!
4th
Q
9
5
4
7
10
2
6
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 0
7 0
7 1
7 6 5 4
Q
K J 10 9 8 7 2
10
9
K 10 9 8 7 4
6 4 3
J 9 2
Bidding
Play
Combat preempt
Cue-bid to show fit
Communication/entries
Jettison play
Play
A 8 3
6 3 2
A 5
A Q 5 4 3
6
North
10 top tricks
Win the rest
made 6 +1430
Practice 5F09
Main
Top
Combating Weak Openings
Combating Weak Openings III
West
3 NT!
NORTH
2
All Pass
East
2
South
Pass
Board 1
4 2
10 9 2
A Q J 8 7 3
Q 4
Trick
1 N
2 E
3 E
4 N
5 W
6 W
7 W
8 E
9 E
10 E
11 E
Lead
10?
8
2
9
Q
A
4
A
K
10
4
2nd
K
!
5
9
5
4
4
2
7
J
J
10
3rd
8
3!
J!
6
9
3
A
5
6
7
5
4th
3
2
Q
Q
6
10
7
3
7
8
J
W L
1 0
2 0
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 1
6 1
7 1
8 1
9 1
9 2
Q 3
Q 4 3
K 9 5
A J 7 6 5
A K 10 9 8
A K 5
6 4
8 3 2
Bidding
Play
Combat weak two-bid
Resp to suit overcall
Avoidance finesse
Throw-in play
North squeezed in 1 suit
Play
J 7 6 5
J 8 7 6
10 2
K 10 9
3 NT West
7 top tricks
N endplayed (lose 1)
made 4 -430
West
3
Pass
North
Dbl
4
!
EAST
2
Pass
All Pass
South
Pass
3
Board 2
A K Q
8 3
A 6 5 3
A K J 3
Trick
1 W
2 E
3 E
4 N
5 N
6 N
7 W
8 N
9 N
10 S
11 S
12 S
Lead
2
A
4
A
K
3!
2
A
5
J
7
!
6
2nd
3
Q
3
2
9
7
A
!
2
4
7
9
10
3rd
K
7
8
5
6
Q
10
5
J
3
6
K
!
4th
9
8
Q
10
J
K
4
4
8
5
6
Q
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
3 3
4 3
5 3
6 3
7 3
8 3
9 3
10 8
J 7 2
K 9 8 2
10 9 7 4
9 4 2
A K 10 6 5 4
10 7
Q 2
Bidding
Play
Combat weak two-bid
Rebid by doubler
Lead toward honor
Show-up finesse
Play
J 7 6 5 3
Q 9
Q J 4
8 6 5
4
South
8 top tricks
Win the last trick
made 4 +620
West
Dbl
North
Pass
East
4
!
SOUTH
3
All Pass
Board 3
A 9 7 5
K
K Q J 9
8 6 5 2
Trick
1 S
2 E
3 E
4 E
5 W
6 N
7 W
8 E
9 E
Lead
Q
Q
!
J
2!
6
K
7
10
J
2nd
3
2
4
5
A
2
5
9
4
3rd
K
3
4
K
!
8
4
A
3
Q
4th
A
5
7
2
8
A
3
9
6
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
4 1
5 1
6 1
7 1
8 1
K 6 4 3
3
A 8 5 3
K Q 10 7
Q J 10 8
A 7 6 2
7 6 2
A J
Bidding
Play
Defense
Combat preempt
Resp to takeout double
Trump management
Avert overruff
Duck to keep control
Play
2
Q J 10 9 8 5 4
10 4
9 4 3
4
East
9 top tricks
Cash 2 more winners
made 4 -620
WEST
Pass
Pass
Pass
North
Pass
2
3 NT!
East
2
Pass
All Pass
South
Dbl
3
Board 4
Q J 5 4
Q 10 2
9 7 6 5
Q 8
Trick
1 E
2 N
3 S
4 S
5 S
6 N
7 N
Lead
7
5
A
K
2
J
6
2nd
J
2
7
8
9
4
3
3rd
3
J
4
5
Q
7
Q
4th
Q
!
8
3
6
4
10
10
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 0
7 0
10 9 8 7
9 6 3
10 8
A 5 3 2
6 3
A K 8 7 5 4
K 3 2
6 4
Bidding
Play
Combat weak two-bid
Resp to takeout double
Play for only chance
Overtaking play
Play
A K 2
J
A Q J 4
K J 10 9 7
3 NT North
5 top tricks
Cash 2 more winners
made 3 +600
Practice 5F13
Main
Top
Combating Weak Openings
Combating Weak Openings IV
West
4
NORTH
3
All Pass
East
Dbl!
South
Pass
Board 1
6 5
10
K 8 2
K Q 10 8 7 5 4
Trick
1 N
2 W
3 E
4 N
5 W
6 S
7 E
8 E
9 E
10 E
11 W
Lead
K
2
3!
6!
Q!
J
K
J
A
3
9
2nd
3
10
5
9
2
2
8
6
8
Q
10
3rd
6
A
9!
10
4
4
3
2
4
4
7
4th
A
6
K
K
A
5
5
8
5
7
Q
W L
1 0
2 0
2 1
3 1
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
7 2
8 2
8 3
K 4 2
J 9 4 3 2
Q 9
A 9 2
A J 9 7 3
A K 7 5
J 4 3
3
Bidding
Play
Defense
Combat preempt
Resp to takeout double
Pursue extra chance
Delay drawing trumps
Shift to another suit
Play
Q 10 8
Q 8 6
A 10 7 6 5
J 6
4
West
7 top tricks
Claim the rest
made 4 -420
West
Pass
All Pass
North
3
EAST
2
Pass
South
3
3 NT!
Board 2
A K 8 7 5 3
Q 5 4
9 8 3
K
Trick
1 W
2 E
3 N
4 N
5 W
6 N
7 N
Lead
7
10!
9
3
J!
A
8
2nd
4
3
5
2
K
2
3
3rd
10
7
6
10!
6
4
J
4th
9!
K
2!
K
4
9
4
W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
J 10 9
7 6
K 4 2
Q 7 6 5 2
Q 6 2
A J 10 8 3 2
5
10 9 8
Bidding
Play
Defense
Combat weak two-bid
Resp to suit overcall
Holdup play
Duck to retain entry
Shift to another suit
Holdup play
Play
4
K 9
A Q J 10 7 6
A J 4 3
3 NT South
5 top tricks
Cash 4 more winners
made 3 +600
West
4 NT!
North
Pass
East
5
SOUTH
4
All Pass
Board 3
J 7
8 5 4 2
A 9 6 5 4
K J
Trick
1 S
2 W
3 E
4 W
5 E
6 E
7 E
8 W
9 N
Lead
K
6
9!
7
10
9
2
K
5
2nd
K
!
2
10
4
3
5
6
A
J
3rd
7
Q
A
!
J
2
3
Q
3
Q
4th
4
3
J
2
5
8
4
8
7
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 0
7 0
7 1
8 1
A K 7 6
K Q 8 7
A 7 4 3 2
A 9 4
Q J 10 9
J 10 3 2
9 6
Bidding
Play
Combat preempt
Unusual notrump bid
Retain suit control
Ruffing with 4-4 fit
Play
K Q 10 8 6 5 3 2
3
Q 10 8 5
5
East
6 top tricks
Lose 1 more trick
made 5 -650
WEST
2
Pass
All Pass
North
2 NT!
3
East
Pass
Pass
South
3
4
Board 4
Q 3
K 8 6 4
K J 6
A K J 7
Trick
1 E
2 W
3 E
4 S
5 N
6 S
7 N
8 N
9 S
10 N
Lead
2
9
Q
4!
7!
5
K
J
7
6!
2nd
4
J
A
!
6
2
3
9
Q
8
J
3rd
A
7
2
A
3
K
2
9
K
4
4th
6
5
4
3
5
10
8
10
6
10
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
7 2
7 3
J 7
2
A Q 10 9 8 3
10 8 6 5
K 9 8 6
Q J 10 7
2
Q 9 3 2
Bidding
Play
Defense
Combat weak two-bid
Stayman convention
Elimination technique
Throw-in play
Suit preference signal
Play
A 10 5 4 2
A 9 5 3
7 5 4
4
4
North
6 top tricks
South is endplayed
made 4 +620
Practice 5F17
Main
Top
Combating Weak Openings
Combating Weak Openings V
West
Pass
NORTH
Pass
Pass!
East
4
Pass
South
Dbl
Board 1
K 9 5 2
5 4
J 9 3
A 7 6 2
Trick
1 S
2 S
3 E
4 N
5 E
6 S
7 S
Lead
K
2!
4
5!
5
A
!
4
2nd
2
3
3
A
K
6
10
3rd
3
4
9
9
10
9
K
4th
8!
6
A
Q
2
3
7
W L
0 1
1 1
1 2
2 2
2 3
2 4
3 4
J 10 7 6
Q 3
10 7 2
Q J 10 9
3
A K J 10 8 7 6
Q 8 4
5 4
Bidding
Play
Defense
Combat preempt
Optional double
Deceptive play
Attitude signal
Attack dummys entry
Play
A Q 8 4
9 2
A K 6 5
K 8 3
4
× East
7 top tricks
Lose 2 more tricks
down 3 +500
West
2
All Pass
North
2 NT
EAST
Pass
Pass
South
Pass
3 NT
Board 2
A Q 6
A 3
Q 8 2
A J 7 6 3
Trick
1 E
2 W
3 N
4 E
5 S
Lead
10
8
2
6
4
2nd
3
Q
K
?
J
A
3rd
J
!
2
3
2
Q
4th
6!
7
7
3
5
W L
0 1
1 1
1 2
2 2
2 3
K J 9 8 5 4
10 8 2
A 7
8 4
10 2
Q 9 7 6 4
K 5
Q 10 9 5
Bidding
Play
Defense
Combat weak two-bid
Holdup play
Overtaking play
Play
7 3
K J 5
J 10 9 6 4 3
K 2
3 NT North
6 top tricks
Win the rest
made 4 +630
West
Pass
North
5
East
Dbl!
SOUTH
3
All Pass
Board 3
K Q 7 4
9
J 8 5 2
J 6 5 3
Trick
1 W
2 E
3 E
4 E
5 W
Lead
J
A
!
K
8
9
2nd
Q
Q!
5
2
6
3rd
A
10!
3
K
K!
4th
2
3
9
5
A
W L
0 1
0 2
0 3
0 4
1 4
J 10 9
Q 10 4 3
Q
K 10 9 7 4
A 8 6 5 3
A K 8 7 2
K
A 8
Bidding
Play
Defense
Sacrifice bid
Combat preempt
Deceptive play
Attitude signal
Uppercut
Play
2
J 6 5
A 10 9 7 6 4 3
Q 2
5
× South
6 top tricks
Concede high trump
down 3 -500
WEST
Pass
6
!
North
4
All Pass
East
4 NT
South
Pass
Board 4
10 9 5
A K Q J 10 8 2
6 2
4
Trick
1 N
2 E
3 E
4 W
5 E
6 W
7 E
8 W
9 E
10 E
Lead
K
A
3
7
4
4
8
5
K
Q
2nd
8
7
9
4
J
8
K
J
3
5
3rd
6
5
6
9
A
Q
J
10
7
2
4th
3
2
6
2
2
9
10
7
Q
5
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 0
7 0
8 0
9 0
9 1
A 6 4 2
7 5 4 3
5
A J 7 6
Q 3
A Q 10 8 4 3
K Q 10 9 8
Bidding
Play
Combat preempt
Unusual notrump bid
Set up dummys suit
Throw-in play
Play
K J 8 7
9 6
K J 9 7
5 3 2
6
West
7 top tricks
South is endplayed
made 6 -1370
Practice 5F21
Main
Top
Combating Weak Openings
Combating Weak Openings VI
West
3 NT
NORTH
2
All Pass
East
3
South
Pass
Board 1
A J 9 8 7 6
7 6
5 3
Q 7 6
Trick
1 N
2 S
3 N
4 W
5 E
6 W
Lead
8
2
6
2
3
10
2nd
4
5
2
3
9
5
3rd
10
A
5
K
K
4
4th
3!
Q
K
6
6
Q
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
3 3
K 5 3
A Q 3 2
10 8 2
K 5 4
Q 4
K 4
A K J 9 4
A 8 3 2
Bidding
Play
Defense
Combat weak two-bid
Holdup play
Finessing technique
Choose lead at notrump
Return partners suit
Play
10 2
J 10 9 8 5
Q 7 6
J 10 9
3 NT West
7 top tricks
Win the rest
made 4 -430
West
Pass
All Pass
North
4
EAST
3
Pass
South
Dbl
4
Board 2
J 9 7 2
A K 3 2
10 2
A 10 2
Trick
1 W
2 S
3 S
4 W
5 E
6 S
7 E
8 S
9 S
Lead
Q
A
!
Q!
4
10
7!
9
8
!
4
2nd
2
5
K
10
Q
3
J
4
6
3rd
K!
2
7
J
4
10!
5
2
9
4th
A
3
3
8
2
Q
3
6
5
W L
1 0
2 0
2 1
2 2
3 2
3 3
4 3
5 3
6 3
K 10 6 5
8 5 4
Q 4
K 5 4 3
3
10 9 7
K J 9 7 6 5 3
Q 6
Bidding
Play
Defense
Combat preempt
Resp to takeout double
Placing enemy cards
Communication/entries
Overtaking play
Play
A Q 8 4
Q J 6
A 8
J 9 8 7
4
South
9 top tricks
Draw trump and claim
made 4 +620
West
3
4
North
Pass
All Pass
East
3
SOUTH
3
Pass
Board 3
K 9 8 7
Q J 10
Q
Q 10 9 7 5
Trick
1 S
2 S
3 S
4 N
5 E
6 W
7 E
Lead
K
A
9
10
3
Q
3
2nd
2
J
2!
J
6
K
3
3rd
Q
5
7
2
A
A
J
4th
4
5
10
3
10
2
8
W L
0 1
0 2
0 3
1 3
2 3
3 3
4 3
Q J
A K 7 5 4 2
J 2
A 6 3
A 10 6 5 4 3
3
10 5 4
K J 4
Bidding
Play
Defense
Combat preempt
Resp to suit overcall
Avoid trump loser
Placing enemy cards
Trump promotion
Try for an overruff
Play
2
9 8 6
A K 9 8 7 6 3
8 2
4
East
9 top tricks
Win the rest
made 4 -620
WEST
Pass
Pass
North
Pass
4
East
3
All Pass
South
Dbl
Board 4
K 4
10 9 7 6 5
A 8 6 5
J 3
Trick
1 E
2 S
3 S
4 S
5 N
6 W
Lead
2
A
!
K
4
5
4
2nd
Q
5
6
Q
2
6
3rd
3
3
J
9
K
8
4th
5
2
9
10
A
9
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
4 1
4 2
10 5
A 4
K 7 4 3
Q 8 7 6 5
A Q 9 8 7 6 3
8 2
2
10 9 2
Bidding
Play
Combat preempt
Read enemy lead
Elimination technique
Play
J 2
K Q J 3
Q J 10 9
A K 4
4
North
8 top tricks
E endplayed (lose 1)
made 4 +620
Practice 5F21
Main
Top
Combating Weak Openings
© 1994 Richard Pavlicek