Practice 6G01
Main
Defensive Card Combinations
by Richard Pavlicek
West
Pass
NORTH
1
4
East
Pass
All Pass
South
1
Board 1
K J 10 2
3 2
A Q 2
A K J 10
Trick
1 W
2 E
3 N
4 N
5 E
6 N
7 N
8 S
9 E
Lead
Q
6!
J
2
5
A
10
4
4
2nd
2
7
5
A
!
9
6
6
7
J
3rd
A
8!
3
7
10
2
Q
J
K
4th
8
Q
4
8
A
3
3
Q
2
W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
5 3
5 4
8 4
Q J 9 4
K 10 8 3
8 7 3
A 6 5
A 7 6 5
6 5 4
Q 9 6
Bidding
Defense
Rebid by opener
Active defense
Shift to safe suit
Play
Q 9 7 3
K 10 8
J 9 7
5 4 2
4
South
6 top tricks
Win the rest
down 1 -50
West
2 NT
4
North
Pass
All Pass
EAST
1
3 NT
South
Pass
Pass
Board 2
Q 9 4
10 9 3
A 8 6 5
Q 10 3
Trick
1 S
2 E
3 W
4 E
5 W
6 E
7 N
8 S
Lead
3
4
4
J?
6
2
5!
2
2nd
2
2
3
K
Q!
8
J?
4
3rd
Q
Q
J
A
A
9?
Q
A
4th
K
10!
5
3
7
10
3
K
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
5 1
5 2
5 3
A 8 2
A Q 8
7 4 3
K 9 6 4
K 10 5
J 7 6 5 4
K J
A J 2
Bidding
Play
Defense
Resp to 1 of a suit
Finessing technique
Create losing option
Play known card
Play
J 7 6 3
K 2
Q 10 9 2
8 7 5
4
East
8 top tricks
Concede high trump
down 1 +50
West
1
3
North
Dbl
All Pass
East
2
SOUTH
1
Pass
Board 3
K 2
10 8 5 4
A 10 9 4
5 4 2
Trick
1 N
2 W
3 S
4 E
5 N
6 N
7 S
8 W
9 E
Lead
2
3
5!
2
K
!
5
J
7
J
2nd
8
2!
7
6
5
Q
6
10
K!
3rd
10
8
9!
Q
6
K
4
10
A
4th
A
A
K
A
4
3
3
7
4
W L
1 0
1 1
2 1
2 2
2 3
2 4
3 4
4 4
5 4
Q 9 7 6 4 3
A Q 9
Q 7
A 3
J 10 8 5
J 6 3
K 3 2
Q 9 8
Bidding
Defense
Negative double
Resp to suit overcall
Read suit layout
Shift to safe suit
Play
A
K 7 2
J 8 6 5
K J 10 7 6
3
West
6 top tricks
Lose 1 more trick
down 1 +100
WEST
Pass
Pass
North
1 NT
3 NT
East
Pass
All Pass
South
3
Board 4
K 8 3
K 6
K 10 9 8 4
A Q 9
Trick
1 E
2 W
3 W
4 S
5 N
6 S
7 S
Lead
3
Q
!
2!
3
9
K
J
2nd
5
3!
8
7
2
5
6
3rd
A
4
9
A
10
Q
8
4th
4
5
J
8
4
4
6
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
A Q 10 2
9 3
A J 2
7 6 5 4
9 7 4
Q J 5 4
Q 7 6 3
8 2
Bidding
Defense
Response to 1 NT
Read partner’s lead
Entrapment play
Play
J 6 5
A 10 8 7 2
5
K J 10 3
3 NT North
6 top tricks
Win 3 more tricks
down 1 -100
Practice 6G05
Main
Top
Defensive Card Combinations
Defensive Card Combinations II
West
1
2
1
NORTH
Pass
Pass
Pass
East
1
1
3 NT
South
Pass
Pass
All Pass
Board 1
Q 10 8 6
K 3 2
9 7 4
K Q 3
Trick
1 S
2 N
3 S
4 N
5 E
6 W
7 E
8 W
9 E
10 E
11 E
Lead
10
10!
4!
8
3
2
7!
5
Q
8
8
2nd
4?
J
9
A
6
7
2
9
9
4
7
3rd
Q
K
Q
3
J
A
A
K
6
6
Q
4th
5
7
2
5
4
10
3
8
2
3!
K
W L
0 1
0 2
0 3
1 3
2 3
3 3
4 3
5 3
6 3
7 3
7 4
9 7
A Q 10 6 5
J 5 2
A 6 4
A J 5 2
8
A K Q 8 3
J 7 5
Note 1
Bidding
Defense
fourth suit forcing
Opener’s third bid
Entrapment play
Avoid endplay
Play
K 4 3
J 9 7 4
10 6
10 9 8 2
3 NT East
7 top tricks
Lose the rest
down 2 +100
West
Pass
All Pass
North
3
EAST
Pass
Pass
South
1
4
Board 2
A Q 10 4 3
10 5 4
A Q 4
6 5
Trick
1 W
2 S
3 N
4 S
5 E
6 N
7 N
8 W
9 S
10 N
11 W
Lead
4
2
3
J!
6!
A
4
2
8
5
8
2nd
5
6
7
7
7
2
3
4
8
3
10
3rd
Q
A
K
6
8
9
J
9!
Q
K
Q
4th
A
5
3
K
Q
5
K
J
2
A
7
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
3 1
4 1
5 1
5 2
6 2
7 2
7 3
7 4
6
A 8 2
K 10 8 5
10 8 7 4 3
7 5
Q 9 6 3
6 3 2
K Q 9 2
Bidding
Play
Defense
Resp to 1 of a suit
Ruff/discard endplay
Shift to safe suit
Finesse against dummy
Play
K J 9 8 2
K J 7
J 9 7
A J
4
South
7 top tricks
Claim the rest
down 1 -100
West
Pass
All Pass
North
1
East
Pass
SOUTH
1
2
Board 3
A 7 4 2
Q 9 2
10 8 2
Q 9 7
Trick
1 E
2 N
3 S
4 E
5 S
6 E
7 S
8 E
9 S
10 E
Lead
J
7
J
J!
10
5!
6
5!
3
K!
2nd
3
2
3
Q
6
8
10
9
6
A
3rd
8
K
2
5
4
4
Q
8
8
5
4th
Q
3
Q
2
K
7
A
9
9
10
W L
1 0
2 0
2 1
3 1
3 2
4 2
4 3
5 3
5 4
6 4
6 3
A 8 7 5
6 5
J 10 8 4 3
K Q 5
J 10 4
K J 9 7
A 5 2
Bidding
Defense
Rebid by opener
Passive defense
Entrapment play
West’s
8 marks North
with the
9
Play
J 10 9 8
K 6 3
A Q 4 3
K 6
2
North
3 top tricks
Win 1 more trick
down 1 -50
WEST
1
2
4
North
Pass
Pass
All Pass
East
2
3
South
Pass
Pass
Board 4
J 9 4
4 2
Q 10 9 7 4
K J 8
Trick
1 N
2 E
3 W
4 E
5 W
6 W
7 W
8 N
9 S
10 N
Lead
10
5
7
3!
A
K
2
J!
7
8
2nd
A
3
4
K
4
9
J
Q
10
5
3rd
8
A
K
8
5
6
8
A
K
9
4th
2
2
6
4
3
Q!
10
2
4
3
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 0
6 1
6 2
6 3
6 4
A K 7 2
A Q 10 8 7
2
10 3 2
8 6 5
K J 9 5
A 3
Q 6 5 4
Bidding
Play
Defense
Resp to 1 of a suit
Rebid after 2-over-1
Elimination technique
Ruff/discard endplay
Avoid endplay
Entrapment play
Play
Q 10 3
6 3
K J 8 6 5
A 9 7
4
West
8 top tricks
Win the rest
down 1 +100
Practice 6G09
Main
Top
Defensive Card Combinations
Defensive Card Combinations III
West
Pass
NORTH
Pass
2
East
Pass
All Pass
South
1
Board 1
K 8 2
10 3 2
8 7 5 3
A K 6
Trick
1 W
2 E
3 E
4 N
5 S
6 S
7 N
8 W
Lead
4
K
3!
7
A
6
10?
10
2nd
3
Q
8
4
10
Q
Q!
8
3rd
A
2
9
5
2
K
K
4
4th
J
5
K
6
3
4
A
7
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
4 3
5 3
Q 10
A 9 7
10 9 6 4 2
Q 9 5
J 4 3
Q 8 6 4
A K
J 7 4 3
Bidding
Play
Defense
Third seat strategy
Elimination technique
Shift to safe suit
When to cover honor
East must not lead heart
Play
A 9 7 6 5
K J 5
Q J
10 8 2
2
South
6 top tricks
Win 2 more tricks
down 1 -50
West
2
3 NT
North
Pass
All Pass
EAST
1 NT
2
South
Pass
Pass
Board 2
A 4
A Q 10 3
8 6 2
J 10 3 2
Trick
1 S
2 N
3 E
4 W
5 S
6 N
7 N
Lead
3
Q!
9
10
8
A
3
2nd
5
K
?
5
2
7
9
9
3rd
A
4
K
3
10
6
5
4th
7
2
3
K
5
J
6
W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
2 2
2 3
2 4
2 5
Q 10 6 5
J 7 2
10 4
A K 8 7
K 7
K 9 5
A Q J 9 3
Q 9 6
Bidding
Defense
Stayman convention
Shift to another suit
Entrapment play
Play
J 9 8 3 2
8 6 4
K 7 5
5 4
3 NT East
4 top tricks
Win the rest
down 1 +50
West
Pass
Pass
Pass
North
1 NT
2
3 NT
East
Pass
Pass
All Pass
SOUTH
Pass
2
2 NT
Board 3
A Q 3
J 7 6
A 10 9 5
K Q 10
Trick
1 E
2 W
3 S
4 N
5 N
6 N
7 E
8 N
9 E
10 S
Lead
4
2!
J
A
Q
10
9
J
10
4
2nd
2
10
Q!
5
4
K
3
A
K
10!
3rd
Q
5
A
2
6
4
6
5
J
K
4th
6
A
2
8
7!
3
Q
8
7
7
W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
4 2
5 2
5 3
6 3
7 3
K 10 8 7
Q
Q 8 7 3
J 8 6 2
5 4
A 10 9 4 3
K 6 2
9 7 5
Bidding
Defense
Stayman convention
Shift to safe suit
Keep correct stopper
West must not lead a
spade or diamond
Play
J 9 6 2
K 8 5 2
J 4
A 4 3
3 NT North
5 top tricks
Win 1 more trick
down 1 -50
WEST
1
3
North
Pass
Pass
East
2
4
South
Pass
All Pass
Board 4
5 4
J 10 9 2
9 7 5
K 10 6 4
Trick
1 N
2 S
3 E
4 W
5 W
6 S
7 E
8 E
9 S
Lead
J
9!
3
K
K
8
Q
!
3
3
2nd
Q
5
8
5
5
Q
4
Q
!
7
3rd
A
6!
A
9
2
K
6
J
10
4th
6
J
4
10
A
A
7
9
2
W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
3 1
3 2
4 2
5 2
5 3
5 4
A K 7 6 2
8 6
K J 6
Q 7 5
J 9 3
K Q
Q 10 8 3 2
A J 2
Bidding
Play
Defense
Rebid after 2-over-1
Rebid by responder
Deceptive play
Shift to correct suit
Read suit layout
Play
Q 10 8
A 7 5 4 3
A 4
9 8 3
4
West
5 top tricks
Win the rest
down 1 +100
Practice 6G13
Main
Top
Defensive Card Combinations
Defensive Card Combinations IV
West
Pass
NORTH
1
2
East
Pass
All Pass
South
1
Board 1
10 6 4 2
7 6 5 3
A K Q
A 3
Trick
1 W
2 E
3 W
4 W
5 E
Lead
K
4
Q
9
5!
2nd
3
8
6
7
7
3rd
A
10
!
4
A
!
J
4th
2
5
J
4
2
W L
0 1
0 2
0 3
0 4
0 5
Q J 3
K Q 10 9
J 5 3
7 6 2
A 5
A 4
10 8 6 2
J 10 9 5 4
Defense
Suit preference signal
Trump promotion
Play
K 9 8 7
J 8 2
9 7 4
K Q 8
2
South
7 top tricks
Lose 1 trump trick
down 1 -50
West
3
North
Pass
EAST
1
4
South
Pass
All Pass
Board 2
A J 9 4
K Q 4
7 2
J 10 4 3
Trick
1 S
2 N
3 W
4 E
5 N
Lead
2
2!
J
3
4
2nd
K
5
4!
5
10
3rd
A
8
A
10
Q
4th
3
J
2
Q
5
W L
0 1
1 1
2 1
2 2
2 3
K 6 5
J 10 9 5
K Q J 6
K 2
10 3
A 8 7 6 3
A 9 5
A Q 7
Defense
Try to fool declarer
Do not cover honor
Play
Q 8 7 2
2
10 8 4 3
9 8 6 5
4
East
10 top tricks
Concede high trump
down 1 +50
West
Pass
Pass
North
1
4
East
Pass
All Pass
SOUTH
1
3
Board 3
K 10 9 8
K 7 4
Q 7 3
Q 9 7
Trick
1 E
2 W
3 E
4 E
5 W
6 N
7 S
8 N
9 N
Lead
Q
2!
K
5
8!
8
3
9
3
2nd
2
7
6
10
10
2
3
6
J
3rd
A
J
3!
A
9!
A
K
7
10
4th
4
4
9
Q
8
4
5
2
4
W L
0 1
0 2
0 3
0 4
1 4
2 4
3 4
4 4
4 5
4
A 8 5 3
6 5 4 2
A 8 3 2
J 6 5 2
Q J 10 9 6
9
K J 5
Defense
Underlead to partner
Trump promotion
Play
A Q 7 3
2
A K J 10 8
10 6 4
4
North
9 top tricks
Win the rest
down 2 -100
WEST
1 NT
2
4
North
Pass
Pass
All Pass
East
2
3
South
Pass
Pass
Board 4
10 7 4
Q 9 8 6 2
Q 7 2
J 2
Trick
1 N
2 S
3 S
4 E
5 W
6 W
7 E
8 W
9 E
10 E
Lead
6
A
6!
3
A
3
8
7
10
9
2nd
5
J
2
8
10
2
5
8
4
K!
3rd
K
2
7
K
5
K
A
Q
9
A
4th
4
7
J
4
3
4
J
6
9
2
W L
0 1
0 2
1 2
2 2
3 2
4 2
5 2
6 2
7 2
8 2
A K 9 2
J 4
A J 3
A 9 7 3
Q J 5 3
7 5
9 8 6
K Q 10 8
Defense
Passive defense
Read suit layout
Play
8 6
A K 10 3
K 10 5 4
6 5 4
4
West
8 top tricks
Lose 2 more tricks
down 1 +100
Practice 6G17
Main
Top
Defensive Card Combinations
Killing Defense!
West
5
NORTH
1
Dbl!
East
3
All Pass
South
3
Board 1
A Q J 9 6
K 7 5
4 2
A Q 3
Trick
1 S
2 N
3 W
4 S
Lead
2
Q!
J
3!
2nd
4
7
3!
Q
3rd
A
3
4
K
4th
5
3
K
2
W L
0 1
1 1
1 2
1 3
4
A Q 10
Q 6 3
J 10 9 8 7 2
8 7 5
9 4 2
A K J 10 9 7
4
Bidding
Defense
Combat sacrifice bid
Active defense
Attack dummy’s entry
5
makes if defenders
miss any key play
Play
K 10 3 2
J 8 6 3
8 5
K 6 5
5
× East
7 top tricks
Win the rest
down 1 +100
West
Pass
Pass
North
2 NT
6 NT
EAST
Pass
Pass
All Pass
South
Pass
4 NT
Board 2
A 9 5 3
A 7 2
A K Q 7
A 10
Trick
1 E
2 N
3 W
Lead
5
7?
K
2nd
9
3
2
3rd
Q!
6
4
4th
A
10
8
W L
1 0
1 1
1 2
8 7 6
K Q 10
6 5 4
8 7 5 4
Q 10 4
5 4 3
10 8 2
J 9 6 3
Bidding
Defense
Opening 2 NT & response
Quantitative 4 NT
Try to fool declarer
Create losing option
K J 2
J 9 8 6
J 9 3
K Q 2
6 NT North
10 top tricks
Win the rest
down 1 -100
West
3
North
5
!
East
5
SOUTH
3
All Pass
Board 3
K 6 3
Q 9 8 7 2
J
A 8 3 2
Trick
1 N
2 E
3 W
4 N
5 S
Lead
J
J
4
2!
3
2nd
A
2
K
9
8
3rd
2
A
!
7
K
6
4th
4
3
J
5
5
W L
1 0
2 0
2 1
2 2
2 3
A Q 9 8 5 4
K 5
K 8 4
Q 5
J 10 7
A J 10 3
A Q 10 6 5
9
Bidding
Play
Defense
Choose weak opening
Sacrifice bid
Shun finesse
Try for a ruff
Underlead to partner
Play
2
6 4
9 7 3 2
K J 10 7 6 4
5
West
12 top tricks
Win the rest
down 1 +100
WEST
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
North
1
4
5
6 NT
East
Pass
Pass
Pass
All Pass
South
2 NT
4 NT
5
Board 4
K 7 6
K 4
A K 10 9 8 2
K 4
Trick
1 W
2 S
3 N
4 N
5 E
6 N
7 N
8 N
Lead
Q
J
K
10
3!
9
8
2
2nd
6
5
7
Q
4
2
3
5!
3rd
2
A
4
6
10
5
3
4th
A
3
6
9
K
2
7
W L
1 0
2 0
3 0
3 1
4 1
5 1
6 1
Q J 10 9
J 8 7 6
5
J 8 7 2
8 3 2
Q 5 3 2
Q 7 3
Q 6 5
Play
Defense
Pseudo squeeze
Protect dummy’s suit
East must keep
8 else
South can succeed
Play
A 5 4
A 10 9
J 6 4
A 10 9 3
6 NT South
8 top tricks
Lose 1 more trick
down 1 -100
Practice 6G17
Main
Top
Defensive Card Combinations
© 1990 Richard Pavlicek