Trump Handling Tricks

As South, answer each question.

1.	K 10 2			West	North	East	South
N-S vul	7 6 4 3						1
	4 3			Pass	2	Pass	2 NT
	A K 7 2			Pass	3	Pass	4
				Pass	Pass	Pass
Lead: J
	A Q J 9 7
	A K 8
	K 10 2
4 South	4 3

Excluding ruffs, how many trump tricks can you win? 

How many top tricks do you have in the remaining three suits? 

How many additional tricks do you need to make your contract? 

Which suit may yield an extra trick by an honor? 

Which suit may yield an extra trick by length? 

Which suit may yield an extra trick by ruffing? 

How many rounds of trumps will you lead immediately? 

Which side suit will you lead first? 

Quit

Top Trump Handling Tricks

2.	A K Q 10 6			West	North	East	South
E-W vul	5 4 3				1	Pass	1 NT
	A			Pass	2	Pass	2
	Q 9 6 2			Pass	3	Pass	4
				Pass	Pass	Pass
Lead: K
	J 4
	A K 8 7 6
	8 7 3 2
4 South	8 3

How will the missing trumps usually break? 

Assuming the above and excluding ruffs, how many trump tricks can you win? 

How many top tricks do you have in the remaining three suits? 

How many more tricks do you need for your contract? 

Is it safe to lead three rounds of trumps? 

How many diamonds will you ruff immediately? 

How many rounds of trumps will you lead immediately? 

Which side suit will you lead first? 

Quit

Top Trump Handling Tricks

3.	A 3 2			West	North	East	South
Both vul	J 7 6						1
	7 3 2			Pass	2	Pass	4
	Q J 8 3			Pass	Pass	Pass
Lead: K		West continues with A
	K Q J 10 8
	3
	Q J 10
4 South	A K 6 4

How many trump tricks can you win? 

How many top tricks do you have in the remaining three suits? 

How many additional tricks do you need to make your contract? 

Which suit may yield an extra trick by an honor? 

How many times must you give up the lead? 

Which suit is the enemy sure to play when they gain the lead? 

How many rounds of trumps will you lead immediately? 

Which side suit will you lead first? 

Quit

Top Trump Handling Tricks

© 1990 Richard Pavlicek