just a newbee but, you use a newspaper combine if one hive is weak, and you don't want to nurse it along. You make sure the weak hive doesn't have a queen, whether it died or you pinch it, you place a sheet of newspaper over the strong hive. Put a couple small slits in paper. Place weak hive on top of strong hive. Within a couple days, hives will combine to make one strong hive. At least thats my take, more qualified may answer, but I saw no one answered your question so I gave it a go. Plus it will bump it to top ;)