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The Ruff that helped declarer!

You would think when a defender ruffs one of a declarer’s winning tricks that it would be to the defence’s advantage. That may not always be true.

 

 

1 is natural and promises at least a 5-card suit. 3 is Bergen style, 6-9 hcp with 4 spades and double is lead-directional.

So, your choice of opening lead is?

At the table West chose to lead their singleton. They had seen their partner double to show good clubs. West’s plan was to win their trump ace and then play a club to their partner’s supposed A and score a diamond ruff. That was three tricks and hopefully a fourth would appear to beat the game.

It did not quite work out that way even though East did have good clubs. Let’s see what happened:

 

East did not help the defence’s cause by covering Q at trick 1. There could barely be a holding West could have where covering could gain. East should realise West had led a singleton or doubleton, or maybe from 986, hence middle from three small.

South won A and played K to West’s ace. West played as intended 5 to East’s 10. East returned a diamond and South played low as West ruffed to continue clubs. However, South ruffed J and drew West’s two remaining trumps before playing J and 9 discarding a heart from dummy. Now A, K and a heart ruff and South had made 4. Not optimum defence.

It is true that the contract should not be made if East had played a low diamond at trick 1. South could play a spade which West wins to lead a club. If East now plays a second low diamond, West can ruff and the situation is similar to the above with South able to repeat the diamond finesse after drawing West’s remaining trumps.

So, either West must not ruff or East must switch to a heart or best of all for the defence is for East to continue with a second round of clubs, forcing South to ruff. Now, South and West both have three trumps.

 

South crosses to A and repeats the diamond finesse. If West ruffs and plays a second heart, South wins K, plays 2 rounds of spades and but cannot get to dummy to repeat the diamond finesse. South must concede a red suit trick to be one down.

So, in a sense, the lead of either minor (or indeed a heart) should beat 4. Yet, West should realise they do not need a ruff to beat the contract. Although all the declaring side’s trump honours do not need to be with South, West’s spades are such that they are very likely to gain two tricks without a diamond ruff.

Back to the opening lead

Their best way to beat the contract should be by listening to their partner at trick 1 and lead a club.

East continues clubs and South ruffs to lead a high spade and get the bad news. West wins to play a third club and West will have three spades left and South only two.

South can play QJ and cross to dummy with A and will soon be trapped in the South hand after West ruffs and leads a second round of hearts. One down for sure.

There was an added clue for West in their partner’s lead-directing double. However, when you have trump tricks without the need for ruffing, you do not need to lead your shortage, certainly not at trick 1. Even without any action from East, a heart or club lead should work out better for the defence than West’s singleton. With the double, be guided by your partner. Remember, declarer will not enjoy the trump break. That is West’s best weapon, not ruffing a diamond.

Tomorrow once again is Fri day for our less experienced players.

Richard Solomon

 

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