ACBL13A – Defense: Ruff Return Signal Ward Trumbull
Nov 2, 2004
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The opponents are in a four spade contract, and you lead your singleton heart to your partner’s ace. He gives you a ruff;
and if you can get back to him for a second ruff, you’ll set the
contract. So what you need is a:
Ruff Return Signal
That signal would indicate whether you should next lead a
club or a diamond to get to partner again.
NOTE: Partner doesn’t always have a second entry.
But if he does, you don’t want to miss it.
Ruff Return Signal
There are four suits. The trump suit is one, and the suit being
ruffed is another. Of the other two suits one will be a higher
ranked suit than the other. For example, diamonds over clubs, or
spades over diamonds, or hearts over clubs, etc.
Thus if partner returns a high card in the suit to be ruffed, he
wants you to return (lead) the higher of the two outside suits. If he returns a low card in that suit, he wants you to return the lower of the outside suit.
ACBL13A – Defense: Ruff Return Signal Nov 2, 2004
Page 2 of 2
Example: The contract is four hearts.
S - K Q x x
H - A x x x
D - Q J x
C - x x
S - 6 S - A 10 7 3
H - x x x H - x x
D - x x x x x D - x x
C - Q J x x C - A x x x x
You lead the six of spades. Partner takes the trick with his
ace. Partner returns the 3 (low card) of spades for you to ruff.
You should return the lower (clubs) of the two outside suits for
a second ruff.