Stay off Trumps when Dummy has a Strong Side Suit!

by Pamela Granovetter

I was West and I knew not to shift to trumps at trick two because dummy's side suit was too threatening. So I continued with the jack of clubs, which was ruffed. Declarer next played the queen of trumps, which was allowed to win, and then the jack of trumps.

Extending the principle of stay off trumps when dummy has a strong side suit! (not to mention when two people play same suit, someone wrong!), East should win the second heart and return a third club. Look what befalls declarer!

Suppose he ruffs with his last trump, plays a high spade and ruffs a spade to dummy. He cannot pull the last trump, or else West can win the ace of diamonds and cash some clubs. Suppose he ruffs with his last trump, and plays a diamond. West goes in with the ace of diamonds and plays another club, promoting East's ten of hearts to the setting trick! This shouldn't be too difficult because West has seen all four of South's hearts and knows East has the ten left.

This is a beautiful and gratifying defense, but I bet most people would shift to a trump at trick two (at least before reading our new book!).

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