Page 58 - Learn Bridge Ver2_Neat

However, in this book we call trumps and ruff an opponents winner to try
to bring a little clarity.

Declarer’s castle with trumps.

When we have trumps they have a special job. Trumps are allowed to
guard any gate! So when you have run out of defenders at a gate your
surplus trumps may go and help. However, that Repeated for convenience
does assume that the trump gate is still guarded Í K 10 4 2
Ì A J 2 (13 points)
and your opponents have no trumps to attack that Ë J 7 3
gate. So, back to the hand (copied for Ê K J 10
Í 7 6 3 Í J 8
convenience). Ì 7 6 Ì 10 8 5 3
Ë K Q 9 4 2 Ë A 8 6
Ê 9 8 3 Ê Q 6 4 2
Í A Q 9 5
What about the opponent’s trumps? Ì K Q 9 4 (15 points)
Ë 10 5
Ê A 7 5
Another bad thing about trumps is that your
opponents can trump your Aces and so you should always be thinking
about running them out of trumps so that your Aces and Kings are safe.
This is called “drawing trumps”. So, when should we draw their trumps?

Almost always as soon as we get the lead.

When do we draw the trumps?

When we have less losers than will defeat us if you lose the lead. I feel
the puzzled looks already, and so the acronym for trump contracts is
“keep C. A. L. M”. Let us plan the hand shown.
With this hand the opponents may well lead diamonds and so perhaps
we should have a trump suit. 8 cards is enough which suggests a spade
contract. Okay, trumps it is, keep C. A. L. M.

Count quick tricks by power. We have 3 in spades, 4 in hearts (honours
from the short hand first), and 2 in clubs. Total 9.

Add tricks from other sources.
Slow tricks by power - 0,

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