It matters not which opponent wins the H at trick 2, nor does it matter if a C is returned at trick 3, the play is the same. E can now ruff the 3d C trick, but that is with his trump trick, so S still makes his contract. Also, if the opening lead is a S, declarer ducks, then when he gains the lead, he ducks a H, and things again are basically the same, only now declarer ruffs 2 S in dummy instead of 2 D in his hand.
bobbywolffJune 22nd, 2020 at 3:51 pm
Hi David,
Thank you for describing the inner workings of playing a trump suit to maximum advantage and producing four (technically five) heart tricks while playing with hearts as trump (4-4) instead of only scoring two tricks, if instead playing NT.
The above description graphically explains why the eight card fit, if played properly (not allowing the defense to cash a third round of trump) makes that possible while choosing a suit to be trump as opposed to just scoring high cards and, of course, long suit good tricks.
The above represents the magic of playing in a trump suit and, of course, is why eight card major suit fits are generally chosen over final NT contracts.
However, then the play of the hand becomes equally necessary to be successful and, of course, you describe how to handle that properly in order to make sure the declarer scores up the contract trick against any defense.
Subscribe to our feed
Bridge-related
It matters not which opponent wins the H at trick 2, nor does it matter if a C is returned at trick 3, the play is the same. E can now ruff the 3d C trick, but that is with his trump trick, so S still makes his contract. Also, if the opening lead is a S, declarer ducks, then when he gains the lead, he ducks a H, and things again are basically the same, only now declarer ruffs 2 S in dummy instead of 2 D in his hand.
Hi David,
Thank you for describing the inner workings of playing a trump suit to maximum advantage and producing four (technically five) heart tricks while playing with hearts as trump (4-4) instead of only scoring two tricks, if instead playing NT.
The above description graphically explains why the eight card fit, if played properly (not allowing the defense to cash a third round of trump) makes that possible while choosing a suit to be trump as opposed to just scoring high cards and, of course, long suit good tricks.
The above represents the magic of playing in a trump suit and, of course, is why eight card major suit fits are generally chosen over final NT contracts.
However, then the play of the hand becomes equally necessary to be successful and, of course, you describe how to handle that properly in order to make sure the declarer scores up the contract trick against any defense.