|
| ♠ |
Q 9 5 |
| ♥ |
A 3 |
| ♦ |
K J 6 5 2 |
| ♣ |
8 4 3 |
|
|
| ♠ |
J 6 |
| ♥ |
Q J 10 8 7 6 |
| ♦ |
9 8 |
| ♣ |
A K 6 |
|
|
| ♠ |
10 8 7 |
| ♥ |
4 2 |
| ♦ |
A 10 4 3 |
| ♣ |
9 7 5 2 |
|
|
| ♠ |
A K 4 3 2 |
| ♥ |
K 9 5 |
| ♦ |
Q 7 |
| ♣ |
Q J 10 |
|
|
An inexperienced declarer failing to pause for thought might cash ♥A and the ♥K, and ruff the third heart with ♠9. But East wins with ♠10 and cashes the ♦A. Was declarer unlucky?
No! There is no need to ruff the losing heart, because it can be discarded on a winning diamond once they are established. The ♥A should be preserved as an entry, and declarer should simply win the first heart round in hand with king, draw trumps in three rounds, and set up the diamonds (by first playing the queen). East might hold up the ace until the second round, but we still have ♥A to reach our winning diamond in dummy.
Don't ruff a loser with short trumps before drawing them, if you can just as easily discard the loser after drawing trumps.
