Exercise 4M41 Main

Ruff Times On Defense

by Richard Pavlicek

As West or East, decide how you would defend at the crucial moment.

1.
Both Vul K 4
J 10 9 2
A 5 4
A 7 6 4 West

Pass
All Pass North

3 East

Pass SOUTH
1
4
J 10 8
A 4
K 8 7 2
K 9 8 3 Table 4 South

You lead J. South wins A and leads Q to king, then J and lets it ride.

Your play and lead?

2.
N-S Vul J 10 8 4
8 2
K 10 4
A Q 5 4 West

2
All Pass North

3 East

Pass SOUTH
1
4
2
A K Q 10 7
Q J 9
J 10 9 6 Table 4 South

You win the K-A as partner plays 9-3 to show a doubleton.

Your next lead?

3.
None Vul J 8 4 2
Q 8 4
K 5 3
Q 7 2 West

1
All Pass North

2 East

Pass SOUTH
1
4
A K Q 7 6
K 7 6 2
2
J 10 9 Table 4 South

You win the K-A as partner and South both follow.

Your next lead?

Exercise 4M41 Main Top Ruff Times On Defense

4.
None Vul 7 4 2
K Q 9 2
Q J 5
Q 9 8 West

Pass North

Pass EAST
2
Pass South
4
Q 3
A 10 8 7 6
K 4
7 6 5 3 Table 4 South

You lead the K which holds as partner signals with the eight.

Your next lead?

5.
Both Vul 7 6 5
Q J 10 3
10 9 5
A Q J West

Pass
All Pass North

3 EAST
2
Pass South
2
4
J 8 4 2
8 6 5
Q 2
K 9 5 4 Table 4 South

You lead Q. Partner wins K, A then leads J and South ruffs with 10.

Your play?

6.
N-S Vul 5 4 3 2
A 8 4
9 5
Q 10 6 5 West

Pass
All Pass North

2 East

2 SOUTH
1
3
9 7
J 6
A J 8 7 2
K 9 8 2 Table 3 South

You lead the 9. Partner wins J, K then leads A and South ruffs with 10.

Your play and lead?

Exercise 4M41 Main Top Ruff Times On Defense

7.
E-W Vul A 4
Q 8 2
K 9 7 4
A 10 7 2 West

Pass
All Pass NORTH
1
1 NT East
Pass
Pass South
1
4
4 South Table 10
J 7 3
A 10 8 6 3
J 9 8 6

Partner leads the K to dummy’s ace. Declarer plays the A and another spade.

Your play?

8.
N-S Vul J 10 3
K J 10 3
A 4 2
J 3 2 West

Pass North

2 East

All Pass SOUTH
1
2 South Table 7 5
A Q 6 4
10 9 8 5
K 10 6

Partner leads the 9 and dummy plays the jack.

Your play and lead?

9.
E-W Vul A K 2
8 7 4
A K 6 4 3
Q 4 West

Pass NORTH
1 NT
4 East
Pass
All Pass South
3
4 South Table 10 6 5 4 3
Q 2
J 5
J 10 9 8

Partner leads Q to king. Declarer plays A-K (partner high-lows) then the 3.

Your play?

Exercise 4M41 Main Top Ruff Times On Defense

1. Both Vul	K 4 J 10 9 2 A 5 4 A 7 6 4			West Pass All Pass	North 3	East Pass	SOUTH 1 4
J 10 8 A 4 K 8 7 2 K 9 8 3			4 South

2. N-S Vul	J 10 8 4 8 2 K 10 4 A Q 5 4			`West` 2 All Pass	North 3	`East` Pass	SOUTH 1 4
2 A K Q 10 7 Q J 9 J 10 9 6			4 South

3. None Vul	J 8 4 2 Q 8 4 K 5 3 Q 7 2			`West` 1 All Pass	`North` 2	`East` Pass	`SOUTH` 1 4
A K Q 7 6 K 7 6 2 2 J 10 9			4 South

4. None Vul	7 4 2 K Q 9 2 Q J 5 Q 9 8			`West` Pass	`North` Pass	`EAST` 2 Pass	`South` 4
Q 3 A 10 8 7 6 K 4 7 6 5 3			4 South

5. Both Vul	7 6 5 Q J 10 3 10 9 5 A Q J			West Pass All Pass	North 3	EAST 2 Pass	South 2 4
J 8 4 2 8 6 5 Q 2 K 9 5 4			4 South

6. N-S Vul	5 4 3 2 A 8 4 9 5 Q 10 6 5			`West` Pass All Pass	North 2	`East` 2	SOUTH 1 3
9 7 J 6 A J 8 7 2 K 9 8 2			3 South

7. E-W Vul	A 4 Q 8 2 K 9 7 4 A 10 7 2			West Pass All Pass	`NORTH` 1 1 NT	East Pass Pass	`South` 1 4
4 South			10 J 7 3 A 10 8 6 3 J 9 8 6

8. N-S Vul	J 10 3 K J 10 3 A 4 2 J 3 2			`West` Pass	North 2	`East` All Pass	SOUTH 1
2 South			7 5 A Q 6 4 10 9 8 5 K 10 6

9. E-W Vul	A K 2 8 7 4 A K 6 4 3 Q 4			West Pass	`NORTH` 1 NT 4	East Pass All Pass	`South` 3
4 South			10 6 5 4 3 Q 2 J 5 J 10 9 8