Improvers
Week 16
Declarer Play in Suits
Declarer Play in Suits
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We have chosen the suit to play
We should have more of them than
opponents
Defence cannot run their long suits
because we will ruff
But defence may ruff if we give them the
opportunity
So normally we draw trumps as soon as
we get in
Managing Our Trump Advantage
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The Key to Declarer Play
We usually draw trumps asap
Most times the correct play
But not always
We will look at reasons for not drawing
some or all trumps first
Reason 1 – Extra Losers
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The lead is made
Dummy goes down
We count winners and losers
There are more losers than we can afford
We must get rid of enough of them
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K
Q
J
4
2
T
8
3





3
A
K
Q
2








Q
J
7
2
T
8
5
3





A
T
3
J
5
Contract 4 Lead K
We must remove the
There are 10 tricks to take
If we lead a trump they will win
A and cash a 
We must lose 2 ‘s and 1
And there is a

loser


loser
So: win the lead; cash 3 top ‘s
throwing 2 ‘s; then play trumps
Reason 1 – Extra Losers
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A common problem
Your cunning plan must take extra losers
into account
But note that we returned to trumps as
soon as it was safe
Trying to set up other suits would have
risked a defensive ruff
Reason 2 – Need to retain a trump
in the short hand
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If we remove all trumps from the short
hand (usually dummy)
Defence may be able to get winners in a
side suit that is weak in the long hand
With fewer cards in the side suit in the
short hand
We must save a trump as insurance
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A
K
7
6
5
8
3
2







A
K
5
2
8
6
4





J
4
A
5
2






7
6
K
Q
J
5
Win the lead, lead 7 towards K
forcing A
Contract 4 Lead Q
There are 4 losers, 1 in
each suit
If we draw 3 rounds of
trumps we can lose a 4th
Win continuation, cash A & K ‘s
Win A, play Q & J throwing J

Play ‘s allowing defence 1 trick
Reason 2 – Need to retain a trump
in the short hand
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Can be a bit more difficult to spot
Look for
Long 2nd suit with 2 or 3 losers
Opposite short trump suit (3 or fewer)
and fairly balanced hand
Ask yourself
How will I get rid of these extra losers if I
cannot ruff them
All part of the Cunning Plan!
Reason 3 – Taking Ruffs First
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Any Ruffs in the short hand are extra
tricks
Is there another short suit in the short
hand?
Can we establish a ruff (or 2) safely?
If not safely do we need the extra trick so
should gamble?
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A
K
J
T
9
Q
7
2







A
8
6
4
2
9
3






Q
7
A
8
6
2





9
8
7
6
2
Contract 2 Lead 3
Win the lead in hand
There are 7 winners
Do NOT lead a trump
The extra trick is certain
with a  ruff
Cash A and lead another
Possible overtrick in ‘s

When you get back in ruff a
with Q

Reason 3 – Taking Ruffs First
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Look for a short hand ruff before you let
defence shorten your trumps
Can you afford to remove any rounds of
trumps?
Or should you concentrate on the ruff(s)
first?
Do NOT send a Boy to do a Man’s Job!
Ruffs in the long hand do NOT normally
provide extra tricks
Reason 4 – Dummy Reversal
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The only time ruffs in the long hand
provide extra tricks
If you have 5 trumps in 1 hand and 4 in
the other
2 ruffs in the long hand provides an extra
trick
You must take enough ruffs so that the
long hand becomes the short hand
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A
J
T
9
5
K
Q
2





6
A
4
3
2







A
Q
J
2
K
5
3






9
6
4
A
Q
7
Contract 6 Lead 3
Win in hand, cash A, ruff a
We can see 11 tricks
Lead 5 to K checking split, ruff a
We could try a finesse
Lead 2 to K ruff a 3rd
But a better way
Draw last trump, cash winners
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
Reason 4 – Dummy Reversal
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Works by ruffing enough cards in the long hand
to make it the short hand
If the split is 5:3 1 ruff in the short hand is an
extra trick
But it takes 3 ruffs in the long hand for an extra
trick
Make sure your trumps are good enough to be
able to ruff high without losing trump control
Not too frequent but a great play when it occurs
Reason 5 – Cross Ruffing
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With very shapely hands
A method for making lots of trump tricks
Needs a shortage in different outside suits
in declarer and dummy hands
Useful for big contracts
And scrambling part scores
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K
Q
J
8
A
T
9
7




A
K
3
2

The
Big
4
Hand
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A
6
5
3
2








K
7
6
2
A
5
4
3
Contract 6 Lead Q
NB we have all the top
trumps
Classic cross ruff hand

Win in hand, cash A & K throwing a
, cash A & A
Cross ruff 3 ‘s and 2 ‘s
Lead a  which loses and you have 2
top trumps left
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A
J
8
3
2
7

The
Part
4
Score
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A
6
3
2

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
T
6
5

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
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A
K
Q
J








4
3
2
Q
9
8
7
6
Scramble
Contract 2 Lead Q
Win the A, lead 7 to A
There are 6 top tricks
Cross ruff 3 ‘s and 2 ‘s
If we draw trumps they
run the majors
There are 2 top trumps left
Making 9 tricks
Reason 5 – Cross Ruffing
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Always remove top winners in non trump
suits first – to stop them being ruffed later
Do not cash trumps unless safe to do so
Each round of trumps shortens cross
ruffing capability
Use high cards to ruff if you can
If you need to use low trumps use them
early on
Remember – useful for slams
But also good for part score scrambles
Summary
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In suit contracts control of the trump suit
is most times the key issue
We have looked at 5 reasons for not
drawing some or all trumps first
Extra Loser(s) to dispose of
Insurance in short hand
Ruff needed in the short hand
Dummy Reversal
Cross ruffing
Health Warning
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Not drawing trumps first can seriously
affect your point score!
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We have looked at exceptions to the rule
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If in any doubt – draw trumps