Six Ruff Decisions

As South, answer each question about the play.

1.	6 4 2
None vul	Q 3
	7 5 2
	A K 4 3 2
Lead: Q
	A Q 7 5 3
	J 6 2
	A K 4
2 South	7 5

How many trump winners? 

How many side winners? 

After winning the K, what is the best play? 
 A. Win the A and ruff a club
 B. Lead the 3 to your jack
 C. Lead the 2 and finesse the queen

2.	A K Q
None vul	9 7 6 5
	K 5 2
	8 7 2
Lead: K
	4 3 2
	—
	A Q J 10 7 6
5 South	A 5 4 3

How many trump winners? 

How many side winners? 

After winning the A, what is the best play? 
 A. Win the Q and ruff a heart; try to ruff all of dummy’s hearts
 B. Win the K first then ruff hearts…
 C. Lead a club

Quit

Top   Six Ruff Decisions

3.	A 9 6 5 2
Both vul	K 6 4 3
	3 2
	6 4
Lead: Q
	K 3
	A 8 5 2
	A K 9 6 5
4 South	Q 2

How many trump winners? 

How many side winners? 

After winning the A what is the best play? 
 A. Win K-A and ruff a spade
 B. Win K, K-A, ruff a spade
 C. Win K, K-A, ruff a diamond

4.	Q J 10
None vul	A 4 3
	A 8 2
	Q 8 3 2
Lead: J
	A K 8 7 5 2
	K Q 8 2
	K 4 3
6 South	—

How many trump winners? 

How many side winners? 

After ruffing the first trick, what is the best play? 
 A. Win the Q and ruff a club; try to ruff all of dummy’s clubs
 B. Win the Q then win K-A-Q
 C. Win the Q-J then win K-A-Q

Quit

Top   Six Ruff Decisions

5.	2
E-W vul	K 3
	J 9 6 5 4
	J 8 6 4 3
Lead: J
	A Q 6 5
	A 7 6 2
	8
4 South	K Q 10 9

How many trump winners? 

How many side winners? 

What is the best play? (Enemy clubs break 2-2) 
 A. Win the K and finesse the Q
 B. Win the K, A and ruff a spade
 C. Win the A and lead a diamond

6.	J 6 5 2
N-S vul	K 8 7
	K Q 6 2
	4 3
Lead: 9
	A K 7 4
	A 4 2
	A 3
4 South	J 8 7 6

How many trump winners? 

How many side winners? 

After winning the A, what is the best play? 
 A. Lead a club
 B. Cash A-K, K-Q, diamond ruff, A-K and ruff a heart
 C. Cash A-K then lead a club

Quit

Top   Six Ruff Decisions

© 1994 Richard Pavlicek