Study 9P41   Main


Ruff-Sluff Endplay


  by Richard Pavlicek

A ruff-sluff endplay is similar to a throw-in at notrump, except opponents have the additional option to lead your double-void suit, yielding a ruff in one hand and a sluff in the other. Generally, a ruff-sluff endplay is safer than a throw-in, because the trump suit provides a security net when it fails. About the Techniques

1. Forced ruff-sluff endplay

S win 2
auto bi
S K
H 2
D 3
C
Trick
1 S
Lead
D 2!
2nd
Q
3rd
3
4th
4
S
H
D A K Q
C
Table S
H A K
D 4
C
South leads S A
H 3
D 2
C

2. Elimination, forced ruff-sluff endplay

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

Any endplay may require elimination play before.

3. Fork ruff-sluff endplay

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

4. Double fork ruff-sluff endplay

S win 3
bi
S K
H 3
D Q 2
C
Trick
1 S
Lead
H 2
2nd
Q
3rd
3
4th
S
H A Q
D J 4
C
Table S
H K J
D K 5
C
South leads S A
H 2
D A 10
C

Whoever wins is endplayed.

5. Twin-entry fork ruff-sluff endplay

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

6. Finesse fork ruff-sluff endplay

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

Play is 100 percent. In bi case lead low to H 8.

7. Fork or forced ruff-sluff endplay

S win 3
auto bi
S K
H 10 5 4
D
C
Trick
1 S
Lead
H 2!
2nd 3rd 4th
S
H K Q 9
D 2
C
Table S
H J
D A K Q
C
South leads S A
H A 3 2
D
C

Succeeds any time H K-Q-J are not in same hand.

8. Ruff refusal ruff-sluff endplay

S win 3
auto bi
S A
H 10 3
D 6 5
C
Trick
1 S
2 W
3 W
Lead
H 2!
H Q
H 9
2nd
J
10
S A
3rd
3
D J
4th
4
D 2!
S
H A K Q J 9
D
C
Table S
H 4
D A K Q J
C
South leads S K Q
H 2
D 3 2
C

9. Sluff-sluff crossruff preparation

S win 4
S Q J
H 3
D 7 6 5
C
Trick
1 W
2 W
Lead
C A
C K
2nd
H 3!
S J
3rd
H Q
D Q
4th
D 2!
D 3
S
H
D
C A K Q J 10 9
Table S
H A K Q
D A K Q
C
West leads S A K
H 2
D 4 3 2
C

10. Transfer ruff-sluff endplay

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

11. Ruff-ruff anti one-suit squeeze

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

Study 9P41   MainTop   Ruff-Sluff Endplay

Anti ruff-sluff endplay

12. Fork attack anti endplay

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

13. Duck anti endplay

S win 4
auto bi
S
H Q 5 4
D K J 8
C
Trick
1 W
2 E
3 N
Lead
H 6
H 7
D J!
2nd
4
3!
3rd
A
J
4th
2
Q
S K
H J 6
D 10 7 6
C
Table S A
H A 7
D Q 4 3
C
West leads S
H K 3 2
D A 9 2
C

Auto case trivial with D K-J over queen.

14. Ruff-sluff anti pseudo endplay

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

15. Ruff-sluff anti establishment

S win 3
auto bi
S
H 4 3
D 4 3
C A K Q
Trick
1 S
2 E
3 S
Lead
C J!
H J
C 10!
2nd
H 8
A!
3rd
Q
9
4th
S A
3
S K
H 10 9 8
D 10 9 8
C
Table S A
H K Q J
D K Q J
C
South leads S
H A 2
D A 2
C J 10 9

16. Pre-ruff fork relief anti endplay

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

17. Gambit duck anti double sluff endplay

S win 3
auto bi
S
H 2
D A K Q
C A K
Trick
1 W
Lead
H 5
2nd
2
3rd
6
4th
3!
S A J
H 5
D 5 4
C 2
Table S K Q
H 6
D 3 2
C 3
West leads S
H A K Q J 4 3
D
C

Study 9P41   MainTop   Ruff-Sluff Endplay

© 2014 Richard Pavlicek