By Val Rhead
TRANSPORTATION – PART TWO: CROSS-RUFFING
Last week, we discussed the importance of transportation when taking tricks. You can have good tricks on one side of the table and not be able to use them because you don’t have the transportation to get there. In the hand below, North is playing a Four-Spade contract. His transportation is by cross-ruffing. That is, a suit is led by one hand in which the other hand is void. A trump is used to capture the trick. Another suit is returned in which the first hand is void. A trump on that side of the table captures the trick.
NORTH
S AQJ98
H
D A864
C 6732
SOUTH
S K10765
H A652
D 9752
C
Above is a fairly simple illustration of two partnership hands that have good transportation and will cross-ruff, ideally making a 4-Spade game contract with only eighteen high-card points. North has a good five-card suit and 12 points counting one length point for the fifth card in Spades. He opens the bidding with a One-Spade bid.
South has just seven high-card points, but also he has a length point for his five-card Spade suit. Of course this gives him a fit in Spades so he can count five points for his Club void. Also, he is aware of the Law of Total Tricks that states that you can usually safely play a contract that equals the total number of trump the partnership has. It doesn’t guarantee that you will make the contract, but usually you can do better than letting your opponents play the contract. Accordingly, South jumps to Four Spades. This has the added benefit of making it difficult for their opponents to find a fit of their own.
The opponent in the East makes the lead of a small Club. The declarer studies both his own and his dummy’s hand. He does of course have the option of drawing out the opponents’ trump. If the three outstanding trump were split three-zero, this could use up six of his Spades. He has noted with great joy, however, that he has all of the high trump. He decides wisely to use some of his ten trump to cross-ruff the opponents’ tricks. First, he will play the Ace of Diamonds and then the Ace of Hearts. It is very unlikely that the opponent will be able to ruff these two cards. Then he proceeds to alternatively ruff the Clubs and Spades that are in his two hands. The two Aces, seven cross-ruffs and one remaining high trump will give him ten tricks.
In this example hand, the trump cards are all high. The three trump held by the opponents are low cards, but they will be able to take three tricks in Diamonds and trumps. If declarer did not have all the top trump, the declarer would begin ruffing with his lower trump first to make sure that his remaining trump are higher than those held by their opponents. He also could afford to draw one, but only one, round of trump first.
If you wish to promote an activity in your bridge group or ask a bridge question, send the information to [email protected] and I will try to include it in this column.
NEW SOCIAL BRIDGE GAME IN HUNTSVILLE
Games are at the ACTIVE LIVING CENTRE on THURSDAYS at 7PM in the multi-purpose room 2nd floor (elevator) at the back entrance of the Canada Summit Centre. Just come – with or without a partner.
For information, please contact Donna or Peter Tikuisis at 647 471 1774 or [email protected].
For now, this game will be played following Chicago Rules (allowing both fast and slow games). You will keep your same partner for the entire evening. Cost is $1.50 per person. Parking is outside the North Entrance opposite Heritage Village Railway Station.
PORT CARLING SOCIAL BRIDGE CLUB
Games for the Port Carling Social Bridge Club are Monday afternoon 1pm at the Port Carling Community Centre, 3 Bailey Street. Please arrive with your partner at least 10 minutes before game time.
For information, contact Andree or Scott 705-764-3827 [email protected]
Monday, Feb. 4th winners: Els Vandenberg & Peter Rhead 5380 points; 2. Kathy & Jim Haller 3640; 3. Andree Baillargeon & Scott Staples 3500 points
HUNTSVILLE DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB
Games at the Huntsville Club are Tuesday afternoon 1pm, Trinity United Church 33 Main Street (side door, three steps up in the Hearth Room). Please arrive at least 15 minutes early. For information and partnerships call Liz Graham (705)789-7187 or email at [email protected]
The following winners are for Tuesday, Feb 5, 2019 with 8 pairs playing a Howell movement. 1. Helen Pearson and Jim Smith; 2/3. Betty Fagin and Brian Brocklehurst; 2/3. Vern Foell and Rod Dixon; 4. Joanne Garvey and Betty Rintoul
MUSKOKA DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB (Bracebridge)
Games for the Bracebridge Club are Mondays 7pm, Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Taylor Road. Please arrive 15 minutes before game time. For information or partnerships, call Brian at 705-645-5340 [email protected]
The following winners are from Monday, Feb 4, 2019 with 9 pairs playing a Howell movement. 1. Mary Luke and Donna McIntosh; 2. Kel Andresen and Jim Smith; 3. Betty Fagin and Brian Brocklehurst; 4. Gerry Flaherty and Ralph Hair; 5. David Bryce and Don Evans
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