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Declaring Fundamentals:�Trump Play

An overview of the four main ways to Declare contracts with trump suits

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Playing in trumps has its ups and downs!

Pros

You don’t necessarily need to be strong in all four suits to make a good contract

Cons

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Playing in trumps has its ups and downs!

Pros

You don’t necessarily need to be strong in all four suits to make a good contract
Would-be “weak” cards can be really useful

Cons

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Playing in trumps has its ups and downs!

Pros

You don’t necessarily need to be strong in all four suits to make a good contract
Would-be “weak” cards can be really useful

Cons

There is a danger of the defence ruffing in and ruining your planned line of play

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Playing in trumps has its ups and downs!

Pros

You don’t necessarily need to be strong in all four suits to make a good contract
Would-be “weak” cards can be really useful
With distributional values, you can often make Game with fewer than 26HCPs

Cons

There is a danger of the defence ruffing in and ruining your planned line of play

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Playing in trumps has its ups and downs!

Pros

You don’t necessarily need to be strong in all four suits to make a good contract
Would-be “weak” cards can be really useful
With distributional values, you can often make Game with fewer than 26HCPs

Cons

Game being available without HCP value can be difficult to bid
There is a danger of the defence ruffing in and ruining your planned line of play

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Playing in trumps has its ups and downs!

Pros

You don’t necessarily need to be strong in all four suits to make a good contract
Would-be “weak” cards can be really useful
With distributional values, you can often make Game with fewer than 26HCPs

Cons

Game being available without HCP value can be difficult to bid
There is a danger of the defence ruffing in and ruining your planned line of play
“You should draw trumps except…” is confusing!

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METHOD ONE: JUST DRAW TRUMPS

Some hands are straightforward: you simply draw any trumps the defence has, by cashing your top tricks in the trump suit. This should take two or three rounds; after this your remaining trumps can be used for ruffing losers, controlling a suit, or gaining entry to your hand or dummy.

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METHOD ONE: JUST DRAW TRUMPS

Some hands are straightforward: you simply draw any trumps the defence has, by cashing your top tricks in the trump suit. This should take two or three rounds; after this your remaining trumps can be used for ruffing losers, controlling a suit, or gaining entry to your hand or dummy.

♠ 9732 ♠ AKQJ

♥ 543 ♥ 762

♦ AQ2 ♦ K53

♣ K64 ♣ AQ9

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METHOD ONE: JUST DRAW TRUMPS

Some hands are straightforward: you simply draw any trumps the defence has, by cashing your top tricks in the trump suit. This should take two or three rounds; after this your remaining trumps can be used for ruffing losers, controlling a suit, or gaining entry to your hand or dummy.

♠ 9732 ♠ AKQJ In the hand on the left, EW are in

♥ 543 ♥ 762 4♠. This is a very simple example;

♦ AQ2 ♦ K53 there are 4♠s, and 3 in each minor.

♣ K64 ♣ AQ9 Draw trumps ASAP to avoid ruffs.

This will make easily on anything other than a heart lead.

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METHOD ONE: JUST DRAW TRUMPS

What are the characteristics of a hand like this, where the only thing you need to do is draw trumps?

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METHOD ONE: JUST DRAW TRUMPS

What are the characteristics of a hand like this, where the only thing you need to do is draw trumps?

♠ 9732 ♠ AKQJ No need to lose a trump trick to draw

♥ 543 ♥ 762 them all – you have total control.

♦ AQ2 ♦ K53

♣ K64 ♣ AQ9

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METHOD ONE: JUST DRAW TRUMPS

What are the characteristics of a hand like this, where the only thing you need to do is draw trumps?

♠ 9732 ♠ AKQJ

♥ 543 ♥ 762

♦ AQ2 ♦ K53 Strength/control in the side suits, or

♣ K64 ♣ AQ9

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METHOD ONE: JUST DRAW TRUMPS

What are the characteristics of a hand like this, where the only thing you need to do is draw trumps?

♠ 9732 ♠ AKQJ

♥ 543 ♥ 762

♦ AQ2 ♦ K53 Strength/control in the side suits, or

♣ K64 ♣ AQ9 not enough losers to worry about.

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METHOD ONE: JUST DRAW TRUMPS

What are the characteristics of a hand like this, where the only thing you need to do is draw trumps?

♠ 9732 ♠ AKQJ No need to lose a trump trick to draw

♥ 543 ♥ 762 them all – you have total control.

♦ AQ2 ♦ K53

♣ K64 ♣ AQ9

You will probably have trumps left over in both hands, even after drawing them all.

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METHOD ONE: JUST DRAW TRUMPS

What are the characteristics of a hand like this, where the only thing you need to do is draw trumps?

♠ 9732 ♠ AKQJ

♥ 543 ♥ 762

♦ AQ2 ♦ K53 Strength/control in the side suits

♣ K64 ♣ AQ9

There is a lack of need to ruff any tricks.

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METHOD ONE: JUST DRAW TRUMPS

What are the characteristics of a hand like this, where the only thing you need to do is draw trumps?

♠ 9732 ♠ AKQJ No need to lose a trump trick to draw

♥ 543 ♥ 762 them all – you have total control.

♦ AQ2 ♦ K53 Strength/control in the side suits, or

♣ K64 ♣ AQ9 not enough losers to worry about.

You will probably have trumps left over in both hands, even after drawing them all.

There is a lack of need to ruff any tricks.

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METHOD ONE: BONUS!

Watch out for hands where “just draw trumps” is how you handle the trump suit, but it is NOT the first thing you need to do in the hand!

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METHOD ONE: BONUS!

Watch out for hands where “just draw trumps” is how you handle the trump suit, but it is NOT the first thing you need to do in the hand!
This occurs when you have one loser in the trump suit, and you have side suit losers that you can get rid of.

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METHOD ONE: BONUS!

Watch out for hands where “just draw trumps” is how you handle the trump suit, but it is NOT the first thing you need to do in the hand!
This occurs when you have one loser in the trump suit, and you have side suit losers that you can get rid of.

♠ 9732 ♠ KQJ104 Let’s say you’re playing this in 4♠,

♥ 543 ♥ A872 and get a heart lead.

♦ 2 ♦ AK

♣ KQJ72 ♣ 108

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METHOD ONE: BONUS!

Watch out for hands where “just draw trumps” is how you handle the trump suit, but it is NOT the first thing you need to do in the hand!
This occurs when you have one loser in the trump suit, and you have side suit losers that you can get rid of.

♠ 9732 ♠ KQJ104 Let’s say you’re playing this in 4♠,

♥ 543 ♥ A872 and get a heart lead. There’re plenty

♦ 2 ♦ AK tricks, but also potential losers. After

♣ KQJ72 ♣ 108 winning the initial lead, you need to cash ♦s and pitch a ♥ before drawing trumps.

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METHOD TWO: DUMMY PROMOTION

This method allows you to increase the amount of trump tricks you take by ruffing losers in dummy before drawing trumps.

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METHOD TWO: DUMMY PROMOTION

This method allows you to increase the amount of trump tricks you take by ruffing losers in dummy before drawing trumps.

♠ 864 On the hand shown on the left, (4♠ with a ♥ lead),

♥ 7

♦ AQ873

♣ J642

♠ KQJ32

♥ A1065

♦ 10

♣ AK10

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METHOD TWO: DUMMY PROMOTION

This method allows you to increase the amount of trump tricks you take by ruffing losers in dummy before drawing trumps.

♠ 864 On the hand shown on the left, (4♠ with a ♥ lead),

♥ 7 there are not enough tricks in the side suits to make

♦ AQ873 the contract. 4 or 5, to go with 3 or 4 trumps.

♣ J642

♠ KQJ32

♥ A1065

♦ 10

♣ AK10

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METHOD TWO: DUMMY PROMOTION

This method allows you to increase the amount of trump tricks you take by ruffing losers in dummy before drawing trumps.

♠ 864 On the hand shown on the left, (4♠ with a ♥ lead),

♥ 7 there are not enough tricks in the side suits to make

♦ AQ873 the contract. 4 or 5, to go with 3 or 4 trumps.

♣ J642

However, after winning trick 1 with the A♥,

♠ KQJ32 Declarer can score 3 additional spade tricks by

♥ A1065 ruffing ♥s. Between ruffs, just return to South by

♦ 10 cashing clubs (don’t bother finessing). Only after

♣ AK10 this should Declarer draw trumps.

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METHOD TWO: DUMMY PROMOTION

What are the characteristics of a “Dummy Promotion” hand?

♠ 864

♥ 7 Dummy’s trumps are short (drawing trumps will

♦ AQ873 remove them all)

♣ J642

♠ KQJ32

♥ A1065

♦ 10

♣ AK10

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METHOD TWO: DUMMY PROMOTION

What are the characteristics of a “Dummy Promotion” hand?

♠ 864

♥ 7

♦ AQ873

♣ J642 Cards in hand that will be losers once trumps are

drawn, if they are not ruffed

♠ KQJ32

♥ A1065

♦ 10

♣ AK10

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METHOD TWO: DUMMY PROMOTION

What are the characteristics of a “Dummy Promotion” hand?

♠ 864

♥ 7

♦ AQ873

♣ J642

♠ KQJ32

♥ A1065 Plenty of side suit entries to get back to hand

♦ 10 (the more ruffs, the more entries needed)

♣ AK10

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METHOD THREE: CROSS-RUFF

In this method, you rarely draw trumps at all!

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METHOD THREE: CROSS-RUFF

In this method, you rarely draw trumps at all!

♠ J642 ♠ KQ83 On this hand (contract is 4♠ again!), there is a

♥ Q ♥ A965 scarcity of top tricks. There are only 3 top tricks

♦ A9873 ♦ Q in the side suits, although maybe you could

♣ A97 ♣ J652 establish some more.

Trumps themselves might only provide 2 or 3 tricks – at least, that’s what you’ll get if you draw them. However, the cross-ruff technique could turn that 2 or 3 tricks into as many as EIGHT!

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METHOD THREE: CROSS-RUFF

In this method, you rarely draw trumps at all!
Start by cashing your side suit winners (but don’t get ruffed!)

♠ J642 ♠ KQ83 On this hand (contract is 4♠ again!), there is a

♥ Q ♥ A965 scarcity of top tricks. Trumps themselves don’t

♦ A9873 ♦ Q seem to provide many – if you draw them.

♣ A97 ♣ J652 The cross-ruff technique could turn 2 or 3 total

trump tricks into EIGHT!

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METHOD THREE: CROSS-RUFF

In this method, you rarely draw trumps at all!
Start by cashing your side suit winners (but don’t get ruffed!)
Establish separate side-suit voids in both your hands

♠ J642 ♠ KQ83 On this hand (contract is 4♠ again!), there is a

♥ Q ♥ A965 scarcity of top tricks. Trumps themselves don’t

♦ A9873 ♦ Q seem to provide many – if you draw them.

♣ A97 ♣ J652 The cross-ruff technique could turn 2 or 3 total

trump tricks into EIGHT!

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METHOD THREE: CROSS-RUFF

In this method, you rarely draw trumps at all!
Start by cashing your side suit winners (but don’t get ruffed!)
Establish separate side-suit voids in both your hands
Ruff back and forth between the hands

♠ J642 ♠ KQ83 On this hand (contract is 4♠ again!), there is a

♥ Q ♥ A965 scarcity of top tricks. Trumps themselves don’t

♦ A9873 ♦ Q seem to provide many – if you draw them.

♣ A97 ♣ J652 The cross-ruff technique could turn 2 or 3 total

trump tricks into EIGHT!

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METHOD THREE: CROSS-RUFF

Note that on this hand, Declarer will need to start by cashing A♥, THEN A♦. Why? Because Declarer needs to ruff a diamond first, as there are FOUR diamonds to ruff, and three hearts.

♠ J642 ♠ KQ83 Note also that the defence could theoretically

control of the hand

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METHOD FOUR: DUMMY REVERSAL

This is the least common, and perhaps the trickiest, method of making a trump contract.

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METHOD FOUR: DUMMY REVERSAL

This is the least common, and perhaps the trickiest, method of making a trump contract.
Here is an example of a hand where the contract (4♠ again!) can be made using the Dummy Reversal technique

♠ AKQ ♠ 98653

♥ A8 ♥ Q962

♦ 9873 ♦ ---

♣ AK97 ♣ J652

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METHOD FOUR: DUMMY REVERSAL

This is the least common, and perhaps the trickiest, method of making a trump contract.
Here is an example of a hand where the contract (4♠ again!) can be made using the Dummy Reversal technique

♠ AKQ ♠ 98653 Let’s say East (Declarer) gets a ♣ lead

♥ A8 ♥ Q962 from South. There are occasions where

♦ 9873 ♦ --- one should treat this as a finesse and run

♣ AK97 ♣ J652 the trick to the Jack. It is not this day!

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METHOD FOUR: DUMMY REVERSAL

This is the least common, and perhaps the trickiest, method of making a trump contract.
Here is an example of a hand where the contract (4♠ again!) can be made using the Dummy Reversal technique

♠ AKQ ♠ 98653 If East were to eliminate hearts, and ruff

♥ A8 ♥ Q962 two rounds (as in Dummy Promotion),

♦ 9873 ♦ --- the top (winning) trumps would be

♣ AK97 ♣ J652 wasted, creating too many losers.

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METHOD FOUR: DUMMY REVERSAL

This is the least common, and perhaps the trickiest, method of making a trump contract.
Here is an example of a hand where the contract (4♠ again!) can be made using the Dummy Reversal technique

♠ AKQ ♠ 98653 Instead, Declarer should win the opening

♥ A8 ♥ Q962 lead in Dummy, and immediately start

♦ 9873 ♦ --- ruffing Dummy’s ♦s in their own hand.

♣ AK97 ♣ J652

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METHOD FOUR: DUMMY REVERSAL

This is the least common, and perhaps the trickiest, method of making a trump contract.
Here is an example of a hand where the contract (4♠ again!) can be made using the Dummy Reversal technique

♠ AKQ ♠ 98653 Declarer can then return to hand with a

♥ A8 ♥ Q962 trump. It is safe to draw ONE round of

♦ 9873 ♦ --- trumps, because you only intend to use 4

♣ AK97 ♣ J652 of Dummy’s trumps as ruffs. This also

ensures neither defender can over-ruff

with a singleton, if trumps split 4-1.

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METHOD FOUR: DUMMY REVERSAL

This is the least common, and perhaps the trickiest, method of making a trump contract.
Here is an example of a hand where the contract (4♠ again!) can be made using the Dummy Reversal technique

♠ AKQ ♠ 98653 Declarer can ruff a second diamond, and

♥ A8 ♥ Q962 use the two Aces in the rounded suits to

♦ 9873 ♦ --- get back to hand twice more for the other

♣ AK97 ♣ J652 two ruffs

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METHOD FOUR: DUMMY REVERSAL

This is the least common, and perhaps the trickiest, method of making a trump contract.
Here is an example of a hand where the contract (4♠ again!) can be made using the Dummy Reversal technique

♠ AKQ ♠ 98653 At this point, Declarer has reached 8

♥ A8 ♥ Q962 tricks. The two master trumps will be the

♦ 9873 ♦ --- remaining two tricks needed

♣ AK97 ♣ J652

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METHOD FOUR: DUMMY REVERSAL

This is the least common, and perhaps the trickiest, method of making a trump contract.
Here is an example of a hand where the contract (4♠ again!) can be made using the Dummy Reversal technique

♠ AKQ ♠ 98653 It is always possible, of course, that suits

♥ A8 ♥ Q962 split badly, and you get over-ruffed in

♦ 9873 ♦ --- diamonds. But in that case, the bad split

♣ AK97 ♣ J652 would probably have defeated your

“normal” plan of drawing trumps.

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METHOD FOUR: DUMMY REVERSAL

This is the least common, and perhaps the trickiest, method of making a trump contract.
Here is an example of a hand where the contract (4♠ again!) can be made using the Dummy Reversal technique

♠ AKQ ♠ 98653 You can always adapt your plan in light

♥ A8 ♥ Q962 of new information. For example, the

♦ 9873 ♦ --- recommendation to rise with a high club

♣ AK97 ♣ J652 on Trick 1 is on the assumption the lead

♣8 is the 10 or 8, implying North has the Q.

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METHOD FOUR: DUMMY REVERSAL

This is the least common, and perhaps the trickiest, method of making a trump contract.
Here is an example of a hand where the contract (4♠ again!) can be made using the Dummy Reversal technique

♠ AKQ ♠ 98653 If the opening lead is a low club, this is

♥ A8 ♥ Q962 more likely a 4^th-highest lead, and it is

♦ 9873 ♦ --- better to run the club. The second round

♣ AK97 ♣ J652 of clubs would likely get ruffed by North

♣3 if you tried a Dummy Reversal.

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METHOD FOUR: DUMMY REVERSAL

This is the least common, and perhaps the trickiest, method of making a trump contract.
Here is an example of a hand where the contract (4♠ again!) can be made using the Dummy Reversal technique

♠ AKQ ♠ 98653 Similarly, if South has led 8♣ from 1083,

♥ A8 ♥ Q962 you can embark on the Dummy Reverse

♦ 9873 ♦ --- plan. You’ll have ruffed 3 diamonds by

♣ AK97 ♣ J652 the time you play the second club round,

♣8 but when the Q♣ drops, you can now

draw trumps, as you’ll make 4 ♣ tricks.

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METHOD FOUR: DUMMY REVERSAL

What are the characteristics of a Dummy Reversal hand?

♠ AKQ ♠ 98653

♥ A8 ♥ Q962

♦ 9873 ♦ ---

♣ AK97 ♣ J652

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METHOD FOUR: DUMMY REVERSAL

What are the characteristics of a Dummy Reversal hand?

♠ AKQ ♠ 98653 The hand with fewer trumps has all or

♥ A8 ♥ Q962 most of the controls in the suit, so can

♦ 9873 ♦ --- draw trumps.

♣ AK97 ♣ J652

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METHOD FOUR: DUMMY REVERSAL

What are the characteristics of a Dummy Reversal hand?

♠ AKQ ♠ 98653 A potential to take a lot of ruffs in the

♥ A8 ♥ Q962 hand with long trumps.

♦ 9873 ♦ ---

♣ AK97 ♣ J652 Note: in the example given, this is all

from the one suit, but it is possible that

the hand with longer trumps has shortage

in two suits (which means less risk of

being over-ruffed)

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METHOD FOUR: DUMMY REVERSAL

What are the characteristics of a Dummy Reversal hand?

♠ AKQ ♠ 98653 Plenty entries to Dummy in the side suits

♥ A8 ♥ Q962

♦ 9873 ♦ ---

♣ AK97 ♣ J652

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METHOD FOUR: DUMMY REVERSAL

What are the characteristics of a Dummy Reversal hand?

♠ AKQ ♠ 98653 Not enough tricks in the side suits, so

♥ A8 ♥ Q962 ruffing of losers necessary.

♦ 9873 ♦ ---

♣ AK97 ♣ J652 Potential tricks

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METHOD FOUR: DUMMY REVERSAL

What are the characteristics of a Dummy Reversal hand?

♠ AKQ ♠ 98653 Ruffing in the hand with shorter trumps

♥ A8 ♥ Q962 would promote tricks for the defence

♦ 9873 ♦ ---

♣ AK97 ♣ J652

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PRACTICAL APPLICATION TIME!

♠ Q94 This is an actual hand from a Teams Match where

♥ A96 some of you were playing. The contract is 4♥.

♦ 3 The bottom hand is Declarer, and the lead was 3♠.

♣ KQJ872

♠ AJ8

♥ QJ1073

♦ AK2

♣ 106

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PRACTICAL APPLICATION TIME!

♠ Q94 This is an actual hand from a Teams Match where

♥ A96 some of you were playing. The contract is 4♥.

♦ 3 The bottom hand is Declarer, and the lead was 3♠.

♣ KQJ872

The teacher playing this hand misplayed the

♠ AJ8 contract and came down.

♥ QJ1073 (To be fair, I’m assuming he did that deliberately, to

♦ AK2 illustrate the point. Teachers are prone to doing

♣ 106 that kind of thing! ☺ )

PRACTICAL APPLICATION TIME!

♠ Q94 This is an actual hand from a Teams Match where

♥ A96 some of you were playing. The contract is 4♥.

♦ 3 The bottom hand is Declarer, and the lead was 3♠.

♣ KQJ872

Well done if you said: DUMMY PROMOTION ☺

♠ AJ8

♥ QJ1073 Plenty of side suit entries to get back to hand.

♦ AK2 In this case, you actually just need the one, because

♣ 106 you are only ruffing twice, and starting in hand.

Sometimes, “one” is “plenty”!

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PRACTICAL APPLICATION TIME!

♠ Q94 This is an actual hand from a Teams Match where

♥ A96 some of you were playing. The contract is 4♥.

♦ 3 The bottom hand is Declarer, and the lead was 3♠.

♣ KQJ872

That gives us the TYPE of line we’re looking for,

♠ AJ8 but we still need to plan the play!

♥ QJ1073

♦ AK2

♣ 106

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PRACTICAL APPLICATION TIME!

♠ Q94 This is an actual hand from a Teams Match where

♥ A96 some of you were playing. The contract is 4♥.

♦ 3 The bottom hand is Declarer, and the lead was 3♠.

♣ KQJ872

That gives us the TYPE of line we’re looking for,

♠ AJ8 but we still need to plan the play!

♥ QJ1073

♦ AK2 Start by cashing two rounds of diamonds, pitching a

♣ 106 ♠ on the second diamond.

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PRACTICAL APPLICATION TIME!

♠ Q94 This is an actual hand from a Teams Match where

♥ A96 some of you were playing. The contract is 4♥.

♦ 3 The bottom hand is Declarer, and the lead was 3♠.

♣ KQJ872

You can then ruff a ♦, return to hand with the A♠,

♠ AJ8 and then ruff the J♠.

♥ QJ1073

♦ AK2

♣ 106

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PRACTICAL APPLICATION TIME!

♠ Q94 This is an actual hand from a Teams Match where

♥ A96 some of you were playing. The contract is 4♥.

♦ 3 The bottom hand is Declarer, and the lead was 3♠.

♣ KQJ872

Cash the A♥ to unblock, and start drawing trumps.

♠ AJ8

♥ QJ1073 You have ensured that you’ll lose the K♥, but there

♦ AK2 was always a chance of that anyway. Indeed, the

♣ 106 finesse fails, as our teacher in this example found.

Key point: You only need to score 3 of these four

tricks. You may only need 2 if you get a club.