{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-09-01T18:13:20+00:00","modifiedTime":"2023-06-08T12:26:52+00:00","timestamp":"2023-06-08T15:01:02+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33884"},"slug":"games","categoryId":33884},{"name":"Card Games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33890"},"slug":"card-games","categoryId":33890},{"name":"Bridge","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33891"},"slug":"bridge","categoryId":33891}],"title":"Steer Clear of Trumping Losers in the Long Trump Hand in Bridge","strippedTitle":"steer clear of trumping losers in the long trump hand in bridge","slug":"steer-clear-trumping-losers-long-trump-hand-bridge","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"If you can generate extra tricks in bridge by trumping your losers in the dummy, you may think that you can generate extra tricks by trumping the dummy’s losers","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"If you can generate extra tricks in bridge by trumping your losers in the dummy, you may think that you can generate extra tricks by trumping the dummy’s losers in your hand. Sorry, it doesn’t work that way.\r\n\r\nFor a moment, turn things around and think about trumping a loser in your hand — the long hand. Let’s put this theory into practice. Assume that hearts is your trump suit.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/9781119247821-fg0806.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-223871 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/9781119247821-fg0806.jpg\" alt=\"trumping losers\" width=\"200\" height=\"152\" /></a>\r\n\r\nYou want to draw trump, so you play ♥AKQ, removing all your opponents’ trump cards. You remain with ♥J2, both of which are winners. You score five heart tricks. Agreed?\r\n\r\nNow see what happens if your opponents lead a suit that you don’t have and you trump the lead with your ♥2. You remain with the ♥AKQJ, four tricks, plus the deuce you have already used. Same five trump tricks. Trumping with the ♥2 in the long hand doesn’t give you an extra trick. But if you can manage to trump a loser in the dummy, the short hand, you still have five winning heart tricks in your hand plus the <em>ruff</em> (trump) in the dummy. Six trump tricks!","description":"If you can generate extra tricks in bridge by trumping your losers in the dummy, you may think that you can generate extra tricks by trumping the dummy’s losers in your hand. Sorry, it doesn’t work that way.\r\n\r\nFor a moment, turn things around and think about trumping a loser in your hand — the long hand. Let’s put this theory into practice. Assume that hearts is your trump suit.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/9781119247821-fg0806.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-223871 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/9781119247821-fg0806.jpg\" alt=\"trumping losers\" width=\"200\" height=\"152\" /></a>\r\n\r\nYou want to draw trump, so you play ♥AKQ, removing all your opponents’ trump cards. You remain with ♥J2, both of which are winners. You score five heart tricks. Agreed?\r\n\r\nNow see what happens if your opponents lead a suit that you don’t have and you trump the lead with your ♥2. You remain with the ♥AKQJ, four tricks, plus the deuce you have already used. Same five trump tricks. Trumping with the ♥2 in the long hand doesn’t give you an extra trick. But if you can manage to trump a loser in the dummy, the short hand, you still have five winning heart tricks in your hand plus the <em>ruff</em> (trump) in the dummy. Six trump tricks!","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":10014,"name":"Eddie Kantar","slug":"eddie-kantar","description":" <p><b>Eddie Kantar</b> is a Grand Master in the World Bridge Federation and a two-time world bridge champion. 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Steer Clear of Trumping Losers in the Long Trump Hand in Bridge

By: Eddie Kantar and

Updated: 06-08-2023

From The Book: Bridge For Dummies

Bridge For Dummies

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If you can generate extra tricks in bridge by trumping your losers in the dummy, you may think that you can generate extra tricks by trumping the dummy’s losers in your hand. Sorry, it doesn’t work that way.

For a moment, turn things around and think about trumping a loser in your hand — the long hand. Let’s put this theory into practice. Assume that hearts is your trump suit.

trumping losers

You want to draw trump, so you play ♥AKQ, removing all your opponents’ trump cards. You remain with ♥J2, both of which are winners. You score five heart tricks. Agreed?

Now see what happens if your opponents lead a suit that you don’t have and you trump the lead with your ♥2. You remain with the ♥AKQJ, four tricks, plus the deuce you have already used. Same five trump tricks. Trumping with the ♥2 in the long hand doesn’t give you an extra trick. But if you can manage to trump a loser in the dummy, the short hand, you still have five winning heart tricks in your hand plus the ruff (trump) in the dummy. Six trump tricks!

About This Article

This article is from the book:

Bridge For Dummies ,

About the book author:

Eddie Kantar is a Grand Master in the World Bridge Federation and a two-time world bridge champion. He wrote Complete Defensive Play, a book listed as a top ten all-time bridge favorite, and is the author of the first three editions of Bridge For Dummies.

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Bridge ,