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Improvers

Improvers. Week 17 Declarer Play in Suits. Declarer Play in Suits. 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

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Improvers

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  1. Improvers Week 17 Declarer Play in Suits

  2. Declarer Play in Suits • 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

  3. Managing Our Trump Advantage • 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

  4. Reason 1 – Extra Losers • 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

  5. K  Q  J  4  2  T  8  3  Q  2  3  A  K  Q  J  7  2  T  8  5  3  3  A  T  J  5 We must remove theloser If we lead a trump they will winA and cash a So: win the lead; cash 3 top‘s throwing 2‘s; then play trumps Contract 4 Lead K There are 10 tricks to take We must lose 2 ‘s and 1  And there is a loser

  6. Reason 1 – Extra Losers • 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

  7. Reason 2 – Need to retain a trump in the short hand • 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

  8. A  K  7  6  5  8  3  2  K  5  2  4  A  8  6  J  4  A  5  2  7  6  K  Q  J  5 Win the lead, lead7 towards K forcing A Win continuation, cash A & K‘s WinA, playQ & J throwingJ Play‘s allowing defence 1 trick Contract 4 Lead Q There are 4 losers, 1 in each suit If we draw 3 rounds of trumps we can lose a 4th

  9. Reason 2 – Need to retain a trump in the short hand • 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!

  10. Reason 3 – Taking Ruffs First • 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?

  11. A  K  J  T  9  Q  7  2  8  6  4  2  A  9  3  Q  7  A  8  6  2  9  8  7  6  2 Win the lead in hand Do NOT lead a trump CashA and lead another When you get back in ruff a withQ Contract 2 Lead 3! There are 7 winners The extra trick is certain with a ruff Possible overtrick in ‘s

  12. Reason 3 – Taking Ruffs First • 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

  13. Reason 4 – Dummy Reversal • 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

  14. A  J  T  9  5  K  Q  2  3  2  6  A  4  A  Q  J  2  K  5  3  9  6  4  A  Q  7 Win in hand, cashA, ruff a Lead 5 toK checking split, ruff a Lead 2 toK ruff a 3rd Draw last trump, cash winners Contract 6 Lead 3! We can see 11 tricks We could try a finesse But a better way

  15. Reason 4 – Dummy Reversal • 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

  16. Reason 5 – Cross Ruffing • 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

  17. K  Q  J  8  A  T  9  7 The Big Hand  3  2  4  A  K  A  6  5  3  2  K  7  6  2  A  5  4  3 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 Contract 6 Lead Q NB we have all the top trumps Classic cross ruff hand

  18. A  J  8  3  2  7 The Part Score Scramble  3  2  4  A  6  A  K  Q  J  T  6  5  4  3  2  Q  9  8  7  6 Win theA, lead7 toA Cross ruff 3‘s and 2‘s There are 2 top trumps left Making 9 tricks Contract 2Lead Q There are 6 top tricks If we draw trumps they run the majors

  19. Reason 5 – Cross Ruffing • 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

  20. Summary • 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

  21. Health Warning • Not drawing trumps first can seriously affect your point score! • We have looked at exceptions to the rule • If in any doubt – draw trumps

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