BeginnersBeginners

Lesson 18Lesson 18

Declarer Play in SuitsDeclarer Play in Suits

Declarer Play in SuitsDeclarer Play in Suits We have chosen the suit to playWe have chosen the suit to play We should have more of them than We should have more of them than

opponentsopponents Defence cannot run their long suitsDefence cannot run their long suits Because we will ruffBecause we will ruff But defence may ruff if we give them But defence may ruff if we give them

the opportunitythe opportunity So normally we draw trumps as soon So normally we draw trumps as soon

as we get inas we get in

Managing Our Trump Managing Our Trump AdvantageAdvantage

The Key to Declarer PlayThe Key to Declarer Play We usually draw trumps asapWe usually draw trumps asap Most times the correct playMost times the correct play But not alwaysBut not always

We will look at reasons for not We will look at reasons for not drawing some or all trumps firstdrawing some or all trumps first

Reason 1 – Extra LosersReason 1 – Extra Losers

The lead is madeThe lead is made Dummy goes downDummy goes down We count winners and losersWe count winners and losers There are more losers than we can There are more losers than we can

affordafford We must get rid of enough of themWe must get rid of enough of them

K

Q

Q

3

A

J

J

4

7

T

2

2

T

8

T

A

K

J

3

8

5

5

3

Q

2

3

Contract 4Contract 4 Lead Lead KK

There are 10 tricks to There are 10 tricks to take take

We must lose 2 We must lose 2 ‘s and ‘s and 1 1

And there is a And there is a loserloser

We must remove the We must remove the loserloser

If we lead a trump they will If we lead a trump they will win win A and cash a A and cash a

So: win the lead; cash 3 top So: win the lead; cash 3 top ‘s throwing 2 ‘s throwing 2 ‘s; then play ‘s; then play trumpstrumps

Reason 1 – Extra LosersReason 1 – Extra Losers

A common problemA common problem Your cunning plan must take extra Your cunning plan must take extra

losers into accountlosers into account But note that we returned to trumps But note that we returned to trumps

as soon as it was safeas soon as it was safe Trying to set up other suits would Trying to set up other suits would

have risked a defensive ruffhave risked a defensive ruff

Reason 2 – Need to retain a Reason 2 – Need to retain a trump in the short handtrump in the short hand

If we remove all trumps from the If we remove all trumps from the short hand (usually dummy)short hand (usually dummy)

Defence may be able to get winners Defence may be able to get winners in a side suit that is weak in the long in a side suit that is weak in the long handhand

With less cards in the side suit in the With less cards in the side suit in the short handshort hand

We must save a trump as insuranceWe must save a trump as insurance

A

K

J

A

7

7

4

6

6

5

8

3

A

8

6

K

2

5

2

Q

4

Contract 4Contract 4 Lead Lead QQ

There are 4 losers, 1 in There are 4 losers, 1 in each suiteach suit

If we draw 3 rounds of If we draw 3 rounds of trumps we can lose a 4trumps we can lose a 4thth

Win the lead, cash A & K Win the lead, cash A & K ‘s‘s

Lead Lead 7 towards K forcing A7 towards K forcing A

Win continuation, cross to Win continuation, cross to A, A, play play Q & J throwing Q & J throwing JJ

Play Play ‘s allowing defence 1 ‘s allowing defence 1 tricktrick

K

5

2

J

5

Reason 2 – Need to retain a Reason 2 – Need to retain a trump in the short handtrump in the short hand

Can be a bit more difficult to spotCan be a bit more difficult to spot Look forLook for Long 2Long 2ndnd suit with 2 or 3 losers suit with 2 or 3 losers Opposite short trump suit (3 or less)Opposite short trump suit (3 or less) And fairly balanced handAnd fairly balanced hand Ask yourselfAsk yourself How will I get rid of these extra losers if I How will I get rid of these extra losers if I

cannot ruff themcannot ruff them All part of the Cunning Plan!All part of the Cunning Plan!

Reason 3 – Taking Ruffs Reason 3 – Taking Ruffs FirstFirst

Any Ruffs in the short hand are extra Any Ruffs in the short hand are extra trickstricks

Is there another short suit in the Is there another short suit in the short hand?short hand?

Can we establish a ruff (or 2) safely?Can we establish a ruff (or 2) safely? If not safely do we need the extra If not safely do we need the extra

trick so should gamble?trick so should gamble?

A

K

Q

A

9

J

7

T

9

Q

7

A

9

3

8

2

8

6

7

Contract 2Contract 2 Lead Lead 3!3!

There are 7 winnersThere are 7 winners

The extra trick is certain The extra trick is certain with a with a ruffruff

Possible overtrick in Possible overtrick in ‘s‘s

Win the lead in handWin the lead in hand

Do NOT lead a trumpDo NOT lead a trump

Cash Cash A and lead another A and lead another

When you get back in ruff a When you get back in ruff a

with with QQ

8

6

4

6

2

2

2

Reason 3 – Taking Ruffs Reason 3 – Taking Ruffs FirstFirst

Look for a short hand ruff before you Look for a short hand ruff before you let defence shorten your trumpslet defence shorten your trumps

Can you afford to remove any rounds Can you afford to remove any rounds of trumps?of trumps?

Or should you concentrate on the Or should you concentrate on the ruff(s) first?ruff(s) first?

Do NOT send a Boy to do a Man’s Job!Do NOT send a Boy to do a Man’s Job! Ruffs in the long hand do NOT Ruffs in the long hand do NOT

normally provide extra tricksnormally provide extra tricks

Reason 4 – Dummy ReversalReason 4 – Dummy Reversal

The 1 time ruffs in the long hand The 1 time ruffs in the long hand provide extra tricksprovide extra tricks

If you have 5 trumps in 1 hand and 4 If you have 5 trumps in 1 hand and 4 in the otherin the other

2 ruffs in the long hand provide an 2 ruffs in the long hand provide an extra trickextra trick

You must take enough ruffs so that You must take enough ruffs so that the long hand becomes the short the long hand becomes the short handhand

A

J

A

6

9

T

Q

9

5

K

Q

K

A

4

A

2

5

3

Q

Contract 6Contract 6 Lead Lead 3!3!

We can see 11 tricksWe can see 11 tricks

We could try a finesseWe could try a finesse

But a better wayBut a better way

Win in hand, cash Win in hand, cash A, ruff a A, ruff a

Lead Lead 5 to 5 to K checking split, ruff a K checking split, ruff a

Lead Lead 2 to 2 to K ruff a 3K ruff a 3rdrd

Draw last trump, cash winnersDraw last trump, cash winners

7

J

2

6

4

3

2

Reason 4 – Dummy ReversalReason 4 – Dummy Reversal

Works by ruffing enough cards in the long Works by ruffing enough cards in the long hand to make it the short handhand to make it the short hand

If the split is 5:3 1 ruff in the short hand is If the split is 5:3 1 ruff in the short hand is an extra trickan extra trick

But it takes 3 ruffs in the long hand for an But it takes 3 ruffs in the long hand for an extra trickextra trick

Make sure your trumps are good enough to Make sure your trumps are good enough to be able to ruff high without losing trump be able to ruff high without losing trump controlcontrol

Not too frequent but a great play when it Not too frequent but a great play when it occursoccurs

Reason 5 – Cross RuffingReason 5 – Cross Ruffing

With very shapely handsWith very shapely hands A method for making lots of trump A method for making lots of trump

trickstricks Needs a shortage in different outside Needs a shortage in different outside

suits in declarer and dummy handssuits in declarer and dummy hands Useful for big contracts Useful for big contracts And scrambling part scoresAnd scrambling part scores

K

Q

A

4

K

J

6

8

A

T

2

A

K

A

9

5

Contract 6Contract 6 Lead Lead QQ

NB we have all the top NB we have all the top trumpstrumps

Classic cross ruff handClassic cross ruff hand

Win in hand, cash Win in hand, cash A & A & K K throwing a throwing a , cash , cash A & A & AA

Cross ruff 3 Cross ruff 3 ‘s and 2 ‘s and 2 ‘s‘s

Lead a Lead a which loses and you which loses and you have 2 top trumps lefthave 2 top trumps left

4

5

3

7

6

3

2

7

2

3

TheThe

BigBig

HandHand

A

J

A

4

4

8

K

3

7

T

A

6

Q

9

Contract 2Contract 2 Lead Lead QQ

There are 6 top tricksThere are 6 top tricks

If we draw trumps If we draw trumps they run the majorsthey run the majors

Win the Win the A, lead A, lead 7 to 7 to AA

Cross ruff 3 Cross ruff 3 ‘s and 2 ‘s and 2 ‘s‘s

There are 2 top trumps leftThere are 2 top trumps left

Making 9 tricksMaking 9 tricks

8

Q

J

3

2

3

2

7

TheThe

PartPart

ScoreScore

ScramblScramblee

2

6

5

6

Reason 5 – Cross RuffingReason 5 – Cross Ruffing Always remove top winners in non Always remove top winners in non

trump suits first – to stop them being trump suits first – to stop them being ruffed laterruffed later

Do not cash trumps unless safe to do soDo not cash trumps unless safe to do so Each round of trumps shortens cross Each round of trumps shortens cross

ruffing capabilityruffing capability Use high cards to ruff if you canUse high cards to ruff if you can If you need to use low trumps use them If you need to use low trumps use them

early onearly on Remember – useful for slamsRemember – useful for slams But also good for part score scramblesBut also good for part score scrambles

SummarySummary In suit contracts control of the trump In suit contracts control of the trump

suit is most times the key issuesuit is most times the key issue We have looked at 5 reasons for not We have looked at 5 reasons for not

drawing some or all trumps firstdrawing some or all trumps first Extra Loser(s) to dispose ofExtra Loser(s) to dispose of Insurance in short handInsurance in short hand Ruff needed in the short handRuff needed in the short hand Dummy ReversalDummy Reversal Cross ruffingCross ruffing

Health WarningHealth Warning

Not drawing trumps first can Not drawing trumps first can seriously affect your point score!seriously affect your point score!

We have looked at exceptions to the We have looked at exceptions to the rulerule

If in any doubt – draw trumpsIf in any doubt – draw trumps