RUFF AND DISCARDS CAN BE RIGHT From an early stage, most players are taught that ruff and discards are to be shunned as they often concede a crucial trick and hence the contract. Some players are horrified at the idea, but there are occasions where such play can be profitable. One obvious example is if declarer’s trump control is precarious, as shown by the following possible holdings (assume spades are trumps): ♠ KQ10 ♠ AK ♠ K Q J ♠ 5 ♠ A 9 4 3 ♠ 8 6 ♠ 10 9 4 3 ♠9 5 4 ♠ A 10 3 ♠ J 8 7 6 2 ♠ Q J 7 4 2 ♠ 8 7 6 2
In all these cases, if the defence has the chance to concede a ruff and discard then declarer either risks losing trump control by ruffing in the long hand or sets up an extra trump trick for the defence. Another case can arise if the defence need to avoid playing a side suit. If South is in 4 hearts (say) with a club side suit fit as shown below, it could be disastrous for the defenders to open up the suit if they are thrown on lead and South reads the position correctly; a ruff and discard here will retain a trick in clubs, although the defenders need to count the hand to be sure this is the correct defence. ♣ A 9 8 4 ♣ Q 2 ♣ J 7 6 ♣ K 10 5 3
A further example is where there are no other potential sources of tricks. The following accidental defensive coup was very effective at Welwyn Garden City last October. ♠ A 7 5 3 Bidding: ♥ 5 4
♦ A 10 8 2 ♣ J 5 2 S W N E ♠ 10 4 ♠ J 6 2 1♣ Pass 1♦ 2♥ ♥ Q 9 8 ♥ A K J 10 7 3 ♦ Q 9 7 5 3 ♦ J 4 2♠ Pass 3♠ Pass ♣ 10 6 3 ♣ Q 4 4♠ All Pass ♠ K Q 9 8 ♥ 6 3 ♦ K 5 ♣ A K 9 8 7
West led the heart queen and East, assuming a probable doubleton, overtook to cash a second heart and then play a third. Perhaps West had the spade 9 and could ruff in front of dummy promoting a trump trick? No, South gleefully ruffed with that card, throwing a club from table, while an embarrassed West apologised profusely for not leading the more normal heart 8 at trick 1. South cashed the spade King, then the club Ace and King, then started to worry. Ruffing a club now could walk into a trump promotion out of nowhere. Even if East had the club 10 and had false carded with the club Queen, West could ruff in with the 10 and give declarer a possible losing option. He tried cashing the spade Ace and playing the hand on cross ruff lines, but East made the Jack of spades, so the contact only just made where almost everyone else made 11 tricks.
If East had played (say) a trump at trick 3, things are very different. South plays for both black suits to be 3 2 at pairs, so just draws trumps, cashes the AK of clubs and is pleasantly surprised when the Queen drops and he makes 11 tricks. The defenders here got rather lucky, although it is clear to East from an early stage that South has most of the remaining high cards. Such plays are worth considering when there are no other avenues available but don’t try them too often.