TRUMP EXTRACTION

 
    After the opening lead in a suit contract, and before the first card is played from Dummy, the Declarer has to go to the Bridge Dentist. When to extract or pull Trump?  Key question.  Before the question can be answered the Declarer must consider the entire hand: count losers; how to get rid or losers; and is it safe to pull?      
I forgot to bring the cards; I misplaced  the keys; and I can't find my glasses. But who needs glasses; I lost my head.

 

 
 

 
WHEN TO PULL
You do not need Dummy’s trump for ruffing.

You have high cards or a strong (or long) side  suit that you do not want defenders to ruff. 

You have sufficient trumps (usually 8 or more) to pull and still have control of the hand.

You have no Quick Losers.
 
 
WHEN NOT  TO PULL

  • When Dummy is short in a side suit and  you need Dummy’s trump to ruff your  losers in this side suit.
  • When you need to discard losers immediately on high cards in a side suit. (And  you would have to give up the lead if you played trumps first.)  See Quick/Slow Losers. 

    • When you need Dummy’s trump for entries to take needed finesses or to play a side suit.
    When both Declarer and Dummy are short in two different side suits and the hand can be played by cross ruffing.

    When you have insufficient trumps and need to maintain control. 

     QUIZ 29

    TO PULL OR NOT TO PULL?

    TABLE
    S  9 7 6 4 
    H  K 5 2 
    D  A 7 
    C  K Q J 5
     

    HAND
    S  8 5 3 2 
    H  A 3 
    D  K Q 3 
    C  A 10 8 2

    CONTRACT: 4 SOPENING LEAD: Q H

    		 TABLE
    S  Q 3 2 
    H  A 3 
    D  K 9 5 4 
    C  10 7 3 2
     

    HAND
    S  A K 9 7 4 
    H  K 8 5 
    D  A 8 7 3 
    C  Q

    CONTRACT: 4 S
    OPENING LEAD: Q H

    		 TABLE
    S  9 5 3 2 
    H  K Q 6 
    D  Q 7 5 
    C  9 6 3
     

    HAND
    S  K Q J 8 7 4 
    H  A 8 
    D  K 6 
    C  A 7 4

    CONTRACT: 4 S
    OPENING LEAD: Q C

    ANSWERS to Quiz 2

      PARTIAL PULL
    Pull some of the trump but not all.  This is done when you have insufficient trump and need to maintain control. 
         In EXAMPLE 1 Spades are trump. Since there is no finesse, hope for a 3/2 split (67% of the time).  Play the Ace/King  (or King/Ace) and do not play a third round.  Leave the high trump (Queen, Jack or 10) which always wins, with the Defenders.
          In EXAMPLE 2 Hearts are trump. Take the finesse (a small Heart from the hand to the Queen). Case 1: if the finesse wins play the Ace. If the King does not drop (fall under the Ace) then do not play anymore trump. Case 2: if the finesse loses play the Ace when you get the lead. If the King does not drop let the Defenders hold it. 


    QUICK LOSERS
    Losers that must be gotten rid of immediately. If the lead has to be given up when playing trump you must get rid of the losers before pulling trump. This is usually done on high cards in a side suit. 
          EXAMPLE 3.  The contract is 5 H and the opening lead is the KS.  The 9S is a Quick Loser.  If trumps are played the defender will take the Ace and cash a Spade trick.  Plan:  play Diamonds (Queen first) and dump the 9 S on a high Diamond.

    SLOW LOSERS
    Losers (or possible losers) that can be gotten rid of later. There is no rush.  So trumps can be pulled. (Losers in trumps are usually unavoidable.) In EXAMPLE  3, after the Spade loser is eliminated, trumps can be played.  When all the trumps are extracted from the Defense, take the Club finesse for the overtrick.  Even if it loses, the contract is still made.
    EXAMPLES
    1.
    DUMMY
    S  K 8 4
     
     

    HAND

    S  A 9 7 6 5
    2.
     DUMMY
    H  A Q 7 5 4
     
     

    HAND

    H  9 8 3 2

     
     
     
     
     
     
     




     
     
     
    3.
    DUMMY
    S  5 4 2 
    H  K 10 7 5 
    D  A K 9 
    C  Q J 5
     
     

    DECLARER

    S  A 9 
    H  Q J 6 4 3 
    D  Q 2 
    C  A 10 8 2
     CONTRACT:
      4 H
     

     OPENING
     LEAD: K S

     

    EXTRACTING
    TRUMP
    NEED NOT
    MEAN    		 WINNING
    THE TRICK

     
     
     

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