Page 56 - Learn Bridge Ver2_Neat

Chapter 4 - Trumps

The basics

Sometimes we get a hand like Í K 10 4 2
Ì A J 2 (13 points)
this one. We have lots of points
Ë J 7 3
but no guard at all on a particular
Ê K J 10
gate, in this case, diamonds. Í 7 6 3 Í J 8
Ì 7 6 Ì 10 8 5 3
What we have not said so far is Ë K Q 9 4 2 Ë A 8 6
Ê 9 8 3 Ê Q 6 4 2
that we are allowed to have trumps
Í A Q 9 5
in bridge. That means that we Ì K Q 9 4 (15 points)
pretend that a suit is more Ë 10 5
powerful than the others and, in Ê A 7 5
this case, where we decide to have
spades as trumps, a small trump will beat any side suit card.

We need an expanded definition now for a trick.

An Expanded Definition of a trick

A trick is won, if no trump is played, by the highest card of the suit
led. (This is the same as before).

If a trump or trumps are played then the trick is won by the highest
trump.

Look how the play goes here. On a diamond lead we lose the first two
diamonds but when the third round is played we trump the ËQ with the
Í5.

Why do we leave trump contracts this late?

For several reasons:
Because trumps are much more difficult to play than no-trump in that
we have an extra decision to make.
‚ It is this extra decision that means that trump contracts are much

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