The Master Hand: Ruffing or Crossruffing

You can replay the hands from this video using the links below. If you would like to join in these lessons, send me an email [e-mail]
1. tinyurl.com/sj9hghc app.pianola.net/Results/Sessi... No one made 10 tricks here!
2. tinyurl.com/yddjl4de This is perfect for a crossruff. Start with your low trumps. Once you are down to just high trumps you cannot be overruffed. Make sure you cash any side winners before they can be ruffed.
3. tinyurl.com/y3o62t2f You have 3 losers in each hand, but should aim to make one hand the master hand and keep at least 3 trumps for drawing the opponents trumps with. If you do not draw the opponents trumps you will not be able to cash the spades.
4. tinyurl.com/yaegsxp4 POLL 4 How many potential losers do you have? If you can ruff 2 hearts you will make 12 tricks. Do not be tempted to ruff a diamond in your hand. It will not lead to any extra tricks and can lead to you losing control of trumps, if there is an unfavourable trump division. tinyurl.com/y9lxvyhz - only making 10 tricks, as you lost trump control.
5. Hand from 10/02/2020 Hand for weekly quiz: POLL 5 tinyurl.com/23pn3q3l (Should make 12 tricks in hearts or diamonds - no one did)

[@sbpierce9987]

Another very clear lesson. Thanks again, Tony!

[@malcolmpike8565]

Thank you. I learnt so much from that lesson. Loved your presentation

[@deepakmalhotra9929]

Brilliant lesson . Thank you

[@tomleahy8603]

excellent tutorial, very well planned and executed lesson.

[@armantookmanian1938]

At 15:06 ... you say " ...the computer is saying that the best lead for the defense is actually a trump... " but Hearts is trump and GIB says West can hold Declarer to +2 by leading a Spade. It is not easy to see why this is so, but I think this lead allows East to eventually trump a Spade when Declarer tries to use Spades as transportation before drawing trump.