divided 3-2 to have any hope of making the contract . In addition , however , we have two club losers to eliminate . With only a doubleton club in dummy , we can plan to ruff both club losers .
If we don ’ t draw any trumps first , it ’ s possible an opponent will overruff and we ’ ll end up losing a third trump trick . On the actual deal , East will overruff the third round of clubs with the ♥J , and down we ’ ll go .
We could draw trumps first by playing the ♥A and another heart . When the hearts divide 3-2 , we ’ ll lose only two hearts . However , West may then draw a third round of trumps . Now we can no longer ruff both our club losers .
Is there any answer ?
Yes ! We want to draw some trumps but keep control of the suit at the same time . We can do that by winning the first spade trick and then playing a low heart from both hands ! Whatever the defenders do next , we can win and draw a second round of trumps with the ♥A . Then we go about ruffing the club losers . We won ’ t care if a defender overruffs since that ’ s a trick we have to lose any way . We end up losing two hearts and a spade , but that ’ s all . We remain in control .
Let ’ s try this deal . Again we reach 4♥ . West leads the ♣Q , and we must decide how to handle the trumps .
WEST NORTH |
EAST |
SOUTH 1♣ |
Pass |
1♦ |
Pass |
1♥ |
Pass |
4♥ |
All Pass |
|
♠ J 9 8 4
♥ 10
♦ 8 7 4 3
♣ Q J 9 3
♠ A 5 2
♥ 9 6 4 2
♦ K Q J 10 6
♣ 6
w n
s e
♠ K 7 6 3
♥ A K 5 3
♦ 5
♣ A 8 7 2
4♥
♠ Q 10
♥ Q J 8 7
♦ A 9 2
♣ K 10 5 4
If the defenders ’ five trumps are divided 3-2 , there ’ s no problem . We can draw two rounds of trumps and drive out the ♦A . All we ’ ll lose is a heart and a diamond , making an overtrick .
On the actual deal , however , if we win the ♣A and immediately play the ♥A-K , we can no longer make the contract . When we lead a diamond , East wins , draws our remaining trumps , and the defenders then take their club winners .
After winning the ♣A , we can afford to play one high trump , but that ’ s all . Then we need to drive out the ♦A . Now we ’ re in control . Whatever East returns , we win and can take our second high heart . When the hearts prove to be divided badly , we simply cross to dummy and start playing diamond winners . East can get two trump winners , but that ’ s all .
A big advantage of playing in a 4-4 fit is we often have a choice of whether to make our hand or dummy the “ master hand .” We may choose to ruff losers in dummy and draw trumps with our hand , or we may ruff losers in our hand and use dummy ’ s hand to draw trumps .
Sometimes it ’ s clear which to do . At other times , we may have to let the opponents decide . Consider this deal , where we land in 4♥ and West leads the ♠K .
♠ 7 4
♥ A K J 8 4♥
♦ A K J
♣ Q 6 5 3 ♠ K Q J 9 n ♠ 10 6 3 ♥ 6 5 3 2 w e ♥ 4
♦ 7 5
s ♦ 10 6 4 3 2
♣ K 10 7
♣ A J 8 2
♠ A 8 5 2
♥ Q 10 9 7
♦ Q 9 8
♣ 9 4
We have three spade losers and two club losers . We need to eliminate two losers . We could plan to ruff two spade losers in dummy but , if the trumps break 4-1 rather than 3-2 , we could run into trouble . When we
We want to draw some trumps but keep control of the suit at the same time .
give up a spade , the opponents might lead three rounds of clubs , forcing us to ruff . Now we won ’ t be able to draw all the defenders ’ trumps after ruffing the club losers .
Instead , we might consider things from dummy ’ s perspective . Dummy has a spade loser and four club losers . We might plan on giving up two club tricks and then ruff the club losers in our hand , planning to draw trumps with dummy ’ s hearts . But , if the opponents lead a third round of spades , then dummy will run out of trumps on the actual deal .
How do we solve the dilemma ? We let the opponents choose how we ’ re going to play the hand !
We win the ♠A and immediately give up a spade . If the opponents lead a third round of spades – or lead a heart or a diamond – we can continue with the plan of ruffing two spades in dummy and then drawing all the remaining trumps in our hand .
If the opponents win the spade and lead three rounds of clubs , forcing us to ruff in our hand , we change our plan . We cross to dummy and ruff a fourth round of clubs in our hand . Then we use dummy ’ s trumps to draw the outstanding trumps .
This example just illustrates the flexibility of the 4-4 fit . We can choose to ruff in either hand and then draw trumps with the other hand – or perhaps get the opponents to choose for us .
The bottom line is to continue looking for those 4-4 fits … but then plan how best to keep control of the play .
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