A better rule for avoiding a blockage

A better rule for avoiding a blockage

A K Q 7 2
N
W   E
 
S
10 9 8 6

Here is a better rule, that helps you understand the principles, and works in more cases.

Before you start on the suit, decide which cards you need to play from both hands when you get to the short hand's last card in the suit. You need to win that trick in the long hand.