Study 9N41   Main

Ruff

by Richard Pavlicek

A ruff is simply the play of a trump when unable to follow to the suit led, which might be considered the name of the game at suit contracts. This category also includes elopement and trump promotion (overruff or uppercut) since a ruff is always involved. (Trump coups and endplays are covered separately.) About the Techniques

1. Plain ruff

win 1 auto	2 3 — —			Trick 1 S	Lead 2!	2nd K	3rd 2	4th A
— A K — —			A — A —
South leads	— 2 2 —

2. Overruff

win 2 auto	Q — 2 —			Trick 1 S	Lead 2	2nd 10	3rd Q	4th
J 10 — — —			K A — —
South leads	A 2 — —

3. Establishment ruff

win 3 auto	2 — 3 2 —			Trick 1 S	Lead J!	2nd A	3rd 2	4th K
— A K Q —			— K J 10 —
South leads	— Q J A —

4. High ruff

win 2 auto bi	J 9 — 2 —			Trick 1 S	Lead 2	2nd A	3rd J!	4th
A 6 A — —			10 8 7 — — —
South leads	K Q 2 — —

5. Discard ruff

win 3 auto	Q — 2 2			Trick 1 S 2 S	Lead A! 3	2nd 2 K	3rd 2! Q	4th 3
— 2 K A			K 3 A —
South leads	A A 3 —

6. Transfer ruff

win 2 auto bi?	Q — 2 2			Trick 1 S	Lead K!	2nd A	3rd 2!	4th J
— A K Q —			K — A J —
South leads	A K 3 —

7. Crossruff

win 2 auto bi	2 2 — —			Trick 1 S	Lead 2!	2nd K	3rd 2	4th K
— A K — —			— — A K —
South leads	3 — 2 —

8. High crossruff

win 2 auto bi	K 2 — —			Trick 1 S	Lead 2	2nd J	3rd K	4th
Q J — — —			10 9 — — —
South leads	A — 2 —

9. Overruff crossruff

win 4 bi	K 10 — 3 2 —			Trick 1 S 2 N	Lead A! 2	2nd 7 9	3rd 10 J	4th J 4
Q 8 7 — 4 —			9 K Q J — —
South leads	A J A 2 — —

10. High ruff finesse

win 4 auto?	A 2 — 3 2 —			Trick 1 S 2 N	Lead 2 2	2nd A 9	3rd A! J	4th 4
— A 7 6 5 —			Q 9 — A 4 —
South leads	K J K 2 — —

Auto case becomes high crossruff instead.

Study 9N41   Main

Top   Ruff

11. Elopement

win 1	K — 3 —			Trick 1 S	Lead 2!	2nd A	3rd K	4th
A — A —			— A K — —
South leads	— 2 2 —

12. Establishment or plain ruff

win 2	— K A 4 —			Trick 1 S	Lead 2!	2nd	3rd	4th
A A — 3			— — K Q J —
South leads	2 — 3 2 —

13. Elopement finesse

win 2	A J — 2 —			Trick 1 S	Lead 2!	2nd Q	3rd 2!	4th
K Q 10 — — —			— A K A —
South leads	— 2 4 3 —

14. Crossruff or establishment

win 2 bi	2 K Q — —			Trick 1 S 2 N	Lead 2 Q	2nd 2 2	3rd 2 3	4th K
A A 2 —			— 2 — A K
South leads	3 — — 3 2

15. Crossruff elopement

win 3	K 3 3 K —			Trick 1 S 2 N 3 S	Lead 2! K 3!	2nd K 2	3rd 3 2	4th A A
A A K A —			Q 4 2 A
South leads	2 2 — 3 2

16. Trump control recovery or elopement

win 2 bi	K A 3 —			Trick 1 S 2 S	Lead A! 2!	2nd 2	3rd A!	4th Q
A Q — 2 —			— K Q A —
South leads	2 2 — A

17. Establishment control or plain ruff

win 2 auto bi	— 5 4 4 3 —			Trick 1 S	Lead K!	2nd A	3rd 4	4th 2
K Q A A —			J 3 2 2 —
South leads	A 2 K Q — —

18. Establishment control or repeat elopement

win 3	K 4 — 2 2			Trick 1 S 2 N 3 S	Lead 2! 2! K!	2nd 3 A	3rd 4 2	4th A 3
A Q — 3 3			J A A A
South leads	3 2 K 2 — —

19. High ruff elopement or trump control

win 4 auto bi?	A 3 — 3 2 A 2			Trick 1 S 2 N 3 E 4 S	Lead 2 A! A K!	2nd A 10 2 5	3rd A! 3 4 3	4th Q Q 2
— A 6 5 4 K Q			Q J 10 — A K Q —
South leads	K 2 K 4 3 2 — —

Auto case allows simpler crossruff alternative.

20. Uppercut

win 1 auto bi	K — 2 —			Trick 1 S	Lead A	2nd 2	3rd K!	4th A
— 2 A —			A J — — —
South leads	Q A — —

Auto case is overruff trump promotion.

Study 9N41   Main

Top   Ruff

21. Trump separation ruff

win 2 auto bi	A — 2 —			Trick 1 S	Lead A	2nd 2	3rd A!	4th
— 2 A —			Q J — — —
South leads	K A — —

22. Secondary uppercut

win 1 auto bi	9 2 — 2 —			Trick 1 S	Lead A	2nd 2	3rd 9!	4th J
A 8 2 — —			Q J 7 — — —
South leads	K 10 A — —

Auto case trivial with K a natural trick.

23. Intra uppercut

win 1 auto	K 7 4 — 4 3 —			Trick 1 S	Lead A!	2nd 2	3rd 7!	4th 10
Q 5 2 A 6 —			A J 10 6 — 5 —
South leads	9 3 2 A 2 —

Auto case trivial with K a natural trick.

24. High crossruff uppercut

win 3 auto bi	K J — 3 2 —			Trick 1 S 2 N 3 S	Lead 2 2 3	2nd K A 7	3rd K! A! J	4th K A
8 7 A K — —			Q 9 — A K —
South leads	A 10 3 2 — —

Auto case wins 4 tricks with safe crossruff.

25. Overruff crossruff uppercut

win 4 bi	K 9 7 3 2 — —			Trick 1 S 2 N 3 S 4 N	Lead 2 2 3 3	2nd J 6 6 3	3rd K A! 7 10	4th 5 5 2
Q J 8 6 5 — — —			4 3 2 — 6 5 —
South leads	A 10 — 4 3 2 —

Alternative is to pitch from North at Trick 1.

26. Uppercut or trump control recovery

win 2 auto bi	K J 2 — A			Trick 1 W 2 N	Lead 2 A!	2nd K! 9	3rd K 10	4th Q A
A — 4 3 2 —			Q 9 A K — —
West leads	10 — A K Q —

Auto/bi cases trivial.

27. Uppercut control or elopement

win 2 auto	K 2 — — 2			Trick 1 S	Lead A	2nd 2	3rd K!	4th
— 3 2 — A			A J — A —
South leads	Q A K — —

28. Overruff trump promotion

win 1	K — 2 —			Trick 1 S	Lead A!	2nd Q	3rd K	4th
A Q — — —			4 3 — — —
South leads	2 A — —

29. Discard trump promotion

win 2	A J — 2 —			Trick 1 S	Lead A!	2nd K	3rd 2!	4th
K Q 10 — — —			9 8 2 — —
South leads	3 2 A — —

30. Overruff or discard trump promotion

win 1 auto	K 10 — 2 —			Trick 1 S	Lead A!	2nd 9	3rd 10	4th A
Q J 9 — — —			A 8 4 — — —
South leads	3 2 A — —

Auto case trivial with K a natural trick.

Study 9N41   Main

Top   Ruff

31. Repeat discard trump promotion

win 3	K 8 2 — 4 3 —			Trick 1 S 2 W 3 S	Lead A J K	2nd Q 2 10	3rd 3! 4 4!	4th 2 A
Q J 10 9 7 — — —			6 5 4 3 2 — —
South leads	A 3 A K 2 —

32. Uppercut overruff promotion

win 2 auto bi	A 9 4 — 3 2 —			Trick 1 S 2 E 3 N	Lead K K 2!	2nd 2 2	3rd 9! 3	4th 10 A
— 4 3 2 5 4 —			K Q J 10 7 — — —
South leads	8 3 2 A K — —

Same if West leads, but not East in auto case.

33. Trump separation overruff promotion

win 3 bi	A — 4 3 2 —			Trick 1 S 2 N	Lead K 2	2nd 2 Q	3rd A! A!	4th 8
— 3 2 6 5 —			Q J 9 8 — — —
South leads	K 10 A K — —

Same would occur if West were on lead.

34. Underruff trump promotion

win 1 auto	K 7 6 — — —			Trick 1 S	Lead A!	2nd Q	3rd 6!	4th 8
Q J 5 — — —			A 9 8 — — —
South leads	10 2 A — —

Auto case trivial with K a natural trick.

35. Underruff elopement

win 3	Q J A K — —			Trick 1 W 2 N 3 S	Lead K K 2	2nd J 3	3rd 2 A	4th 6! 9
K 10 9 — K —			8 3 2 — A
West leads	A 7 6 — — 2

36. Trump control or crossruff duck

win 4 auto	Q J 10 — 3 2 —			Trick 1 W	Lead K	2nd 10	3rd 4	4th 7!
K 9 6 — — A K			5 4 — A K 2
West leads	A 8 7 A K — —

In auto case duck is not necessary but OK.

37. Trump control overruff

win 3	K — 4 3 2 —			Trick 1 S 2 N 3 S	Lead A! 2 K	2nd J 5	3rd K 2	4th 2 K
A J — A K —			— 3 2 6 5 —
South leads	Q 2 A K — —

38. Trump control double overruff

win 3	K — A K 2 —			Trick 1 S 2 N 3 S	Lead A! A! 2!	2nd 9 10	3rd K Q	4th 2 3
A 9 — 4 3 —			J 10 3 2 — —
South leads	Q 2 A K — —

39. Trump control force or elopement

win 3 auto	10 3 — 4 3 2 —			Trick 1 S 2 W 3 S	Lead A! K K	2nd J 3 Q	3rd 2 8 3	4th 2 A 3
K Q J — A K —			9 8 3 2 5 —
South leads	A 2 A K Q — —

40. Overtake ruff trump promotion

win 4 bi	J 10 — 4 3 2 —			Trick 1 W 2 S 3 N	Lead 2 2 2	2nd 10 A Q	3rd 6 J 3!	4th K! 4
5 4 3 2 A — —			Q 9 7 6 4 — —
West leads	A K 8 3 2 — —

Study 9N41   Main

Top   Ruff

41. Elopement or trump control

win 3 auto?	A 2 — 2 A			Trick 1 S 2 N 3 S	Lead Q! 2! 3	2nd K A	3rd A 10	4th 9 K
K 8 A K — —			J 9 2 A —
South leads	Q 10 4 3 — —

Assumes K location known.

42. Crossruff or trump control establishment

win 5	A Q 3 — 3 2 —			Trick 1 S 2 N 3 S 4 N	Lead 2! 2 3 3!	2nd 8 4 9	3rd Q 2 A	4th K K A
10 9 8 — A K —			J A K 5 4 —
South leads	K 2 Q 3 2 — —

43. Ruff management tempo duck

win 5 auto bi	3 2 4 3 2 3 2 —			Trick 1 S 2 E 3 S 4 S	Lead 5! 7 A! K	2nd 8 A J	3rd 2 J 2	4th 9 3 Q
J J 8 A Q J 10 —			K Q Q 10 9 7 K —
South leads	A 10 9 A K 6 5 — —

44. Evasive cash order for telescoping ruff

win 5 bi	2 Q 3 2 3 2 —			Trick 1 S 2 S 3 N 4 S	Lead A! 4 3! 5	2nd 6 7 Q 9	3rd 2 Q K 2	4th 10 J 8 Q
J 9 8 7 6 A —			K Q J 10 K Q —
South leads	A 10 A K 5 4 — —

45. Ensured ruff or establishment

win 4 auto	A Q J 10 J 4 3 — —			Trick 1 S 2 E 3 N 4 W	Lead 2! 6 3 5	2nd 8 2 7 A!	3rd J 4 Q	4th K 10 A
5 4 A 10 8 A K —			K 8 7 6 K 9 7 — —
South leads	9 3 2 Q 2 3 2 —

Note that leading Q fails.

46. Ruff-enabled whipsaw establishment

win 6	— Q 3 2 A K 3 2			Trick 1 S 2 N 3 N 4 S 5 N	Lead 4! A 2 5 3	2nd 9 3 7 J	3rd Q K! A K	4th 7 2 4 8
— A J 10 9 2 J 4			— 8 7 3 Q 9 8 7
South leads	A K 4 — A 10 6 5

47. Entry jettison ruffout

win 4	A — A 3 3 2			Trick 1 S 2 S 3 N	Lead A J 3	2nd Q K	3rd A! A	4th 8 9
— K Q 4 A K			— 9 8 K J 10 —
South leads	— A J 10 Q 2 —

48. Jettison-threat ruff-protected establishment

win 5 auto bi	K K Q J 10 — A			Trick 1 S 2 E 3 N 4 S	Lead 8! K A A	2nd 4 2 3	3rd 10 4 2!	4th A K 2
Q 5 4 5 4 2			— A 7 6 A K 3
South leads	A 2 9 8 3 2 —

If East holds up A, he loses it.

Study 9N41   Main

Top   Ruff

Anti ruff

49. Delayed ruff anti trump promotion

win 3 auto bi	K Q J 9 3 — —			Trick 1 W	Lead K	2nd 3!	3rd	4th
5 4 A A K —			A 10 6 5 4 — —
West leads	3 2 2 3 2 —

50. Trump sacrifice anti elopement

win 2 bi	2 J 10 9 A K —			Trick 1 S	Lead K!	2nd 10	3rd 2	4th A
Q J 10 — 5 4 3 —			A 8 7 4 3 2 — —
South leads	K 9 A K Q 2 —

51. Hop anti high crossruff

win 2 bi	A 3 2 — A K 3 —			Trick 1 W 2 N	Lead 6 2!	2nd A! J	3rd 10 10	4th Q 7
9 8 7 6 — 5 4 —			K J 10 A 3 2 — —
West leads	Q K Q J 10 2 —

52. Overruff anti trump promotion

win 3 bi	— A 3 3 2 —			Trick 1 S 2 N 3 S	Lead 2! 3! 9	2nd 8 J	3rd A Q	4th 4 9
10 2 9 8 — —			A J 4 A —
South leads	K Q 9 2 — —

53. Elopement anti trump promotion

win 4 auto	J 2 2 3 2 —			Trick 1 S 2 N	Lead A! 2!	2nd 4	3rd 2!	4th 2
10 9 6 A — 4			A 7 — A 3 2
South leads	K Q 8 5 — — A

Elopement not needed in auto case, but it works.

54. Ruff refusal anti crossruff

win 3 auto bi	A 2 — A K 6 5 —			Trick 1 W 2 E 3 S 4 N	Lead 2 9 3! 2	2nd 5! Q J	3rd A 3 A	4th 10 6 9
Q J 3 2 4 3 —			K 10 9 A J 9 — —
West leads	4 3 K Q 10 2 —

Auto/bi cases trivial.

55. High ruff refusal anti crossruff

win 2 auto bi	A — A K —			Trick 1 W 2 W	Lead A K	2nd K! A!	3rd 4 5	4th 2 2
Q A K — —			K 5 4 — —
West leads	2 2 2 —

56. Option kill anti trump control or elopement

win 3 auto bi	J 10 3 K 10 A K			Trick 1 S	Lead 4!	2nd J	3rd K!	4th A
A 4 3 K Q Q J —			2 2 A 2 4 3 2
South leads	K Q A 4 3 Q J

Auto case wins 4 tricks with K behind ace.

57. Trump sacrifice anti elopement

win 2 bi?	K 8 A K — —			Trick 1 W	Lead Q	2nd 8!	3rd	4th
Q 9 4 3 — —			A 2 — 3 2 —
West leads	J 10 2 A —

58. Communication break anti ruff

win 4 auto bi	8 7 6 5 3 2 3 —			Trick 1 S 2 W 3 S	Lead 2! 8 Q	2nd A 2	3rd 3 4	4th 4 A
3 2 8 7 6 5 A —			A K 4 4 K 5 4 —
South leads	Q J 10 9 A K 2 —

59. Elimination anti ruff benefit

win 5 auto	K Q J 2 — 4 3 2			Trick 1 S 2 N 3 E	Lead 2! K 3	2nd 4 A A	3rd J 8 3	4th 3 2 2
3 2 — A 5 4 K 5			A 4 3 3 8 7 6
South leads	10 9 8 A 2 A Q

Auto case trivial with A-Q over king.

Study 9N41   Main

Top   Ruff

© 2014 Richard Pavlicek