When not to overruff
Posted: 19 May 2021, 12:27
When an opponent ruffs our winner, it seems natural to overruff when we can. However that's not always right. Consider this end position with hearts trumps.
You lead your spade winner from the dummy and East ruffs. If you overruff you still have to lose a trump and a diamond. But if you discard the diamond loser, the rest are yours.
Seems simple but I have a hard time describing a principle to remember. Can you?
♠ K
♥ --
♦ 86
♣ --
♥ --
♦ 86
♣ --
♠ 3
♥ --
♦ K3
♣ --
♥ --
♦ K3
♣ --
♠ --
♥ J10
♦ A
♣ --
♥ J10
♦ A
♣ --
♠ --
♥ Q7
♦ 2
♣ --
♥ Q7
♦ 2
♣ --
You lead your spade winner from the dummy and East ruffs. If you overruff you still have to lose a trump and a diamond. But if you discard the diamond loser, the rest are yours.
Seems simple but I have a hard time describing a principle to remember. Can you?