jillybean2, on Jul 18 2008, 01:52 AM, said:
Since everyone knows I belong in the Bridge for Dummies class, I guess this question wont hurt too much
Can some please explain
WHY it is (sometimes) important to set up your side suits before pulling trump.
Say, you play 4 Spade with hands like
ATx KQJxx
xxx xx
KQJxx xx
Kx Axxx
The opponents start with 3 round of hearts, you ruff.
What are your possible plans?
1. Draw trumps. No good if trumps are 4-1. When you try to establish your diamonds, they win the ace and cash their hearts.
2. . Don´t draw trumps, establish the diamonds righ now. Much better. They win their ace and what can they do? If they play a heart, you can ruff in dummy and you can win any other lead and draw trumps. There may be problems, when the diamonds are 5-2 or worse, because they may win the 2. round of diamonds and get a trump promotion, but this risk is much lower then the risk of a 4-1 Spade break.
So, by establishing the side suit first, you don't lose trump control.
3. This is much better- but still not the best line. You can have the best of both worlds: Draw two round of trumps and if they are 3-2 draw the last and play on diamonds. If they are 4-1, abandon trumps for the moment and play on diamonds. This line will win as long as the 4 trumps are not with the doubelton diamond behind your main hand.
But this does not work with any hands. There are many hands where you cannot affort to draw just one round of trumps and have to establish the side suit asap.
Other reasons to draw trumps later: You need the trumps to reach dummy, because there are no other entries, or you need the trumps to ruff some other losers in your main hand.
So, you must be clear whether you need the trumps in the short hand for one of this reasons or not. If not, draw trumps and this is right in most hands.
But as all B/I players always start with drawing trumps and planning later (or never), any help which makes them think about this concept is great.