Play Challenge

What is the first principle of declarer play? Many would say it is “draw trumps”. You should do that NOT just because you have learnt to do so, but because it makes sense to do that at the beginning as you don't want an opponent to ruff in while you are working on developing other things. Makes sense doesn't it?

What other things? Like, look at your losers and your winners. If you have losers, can you RUFF your losers, or set up a side suit to create more tricks so you can DISPOSE of your losers? This problem was posed to readers at the end of a previous article and all those who answered were going to draw three rounds of trumps, then take a diamond finesse by leading low to dummy's jack. That's a pretty good try but when I show you the full deal, can you see a better way?

T
QT
AQJ964
AKT2
KQ98432
8762
7
3
76
KJ93
KT8
7654
AJ5
A54
872
QJ98

Do you see that you can do TWO things at the same time? Multi-tasking is what I would call it and it is better than concentrating on doing one thing at a time. Did you notice how declarer had ALL the high trumps except the deuce between declarer and dummy? Why draw three round of trumps by playing three trumps from BOTH hands?

This is a hand where it is COMPLETELY safe to ruff losers BEFORE drawing trumps, while at the same time drawing trumps. Can you see how? Once you have learnt to recognise the equality of all high trumps between the two hands, you will be able to get much more out of your play. And you can have more fun doing it too.

Try this: West leads the king of spades. You're going to draw trumps, but why not dispose of your losers immediately? Win the ace of spades, and ruff one immediately with the ACE of clubs. THEN draw a round of trumps, by leading the two to your nine. Ruff your last spade with the KING of clubs. East shows out. Now lead the ten of clubs and draw a second round, overtaking the ten with your jack. But West shows out! Uh oh, bad news, East has four trumps. But East has no more spades, so you can AFFORD to draw the other trumps safely, which you do. Then you take the diamond finesse, not caring if East wins, which East does. East returns a heart but you win your ace and can then play another diamond to all of dummy's good diamonds. An easy hand to play if you have learnt to multi-task and have the compulsion to show off, which ruffing with the ace and king of trumps would seem to be. Try it when it is 100% safe, as it was with this deal! Not only was it SAFE, it was necessary!