In a suit contract, declarer must always decide if his first move is to draw trump, or something else. The "something else" usually involves something like:
1) Needing trumps to ruff losers in the short hand
2) Needing to first set up (or take) a discard of a loser
3) Entry issues (needing trump to get back and forth)
Playing 4
, you receive the 
10 lead. Which suit do you play at trick 2 and why?
 543 KQJ6 KJ5 QJ2 |
| A108 109852 Q3 AK5 |
In 4, the lead is the K. You win and after pitching a club on a diamond, what suit should you play next?
| Q43 732 AK84 A54 |
| AKJ109 A654 2 632 |
In 4 the lead is the K. Let's assume you win the A at trick one, what suit do you play at trick 2?
| West | North | East | You |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|||
| DBL | Pass | 2 |
3 |
| Pass | 4 |
Pass | Pass |
| Pass |
| 53 AQJ5 7532 1052 |
| AKQJ106 73 Q86 AJ |
In 4 the lead is the K. You choose to win (ducking is dangerous). How do you plan on making your contract?
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
2 |
||
| Pass | 4 |
All Pass |
| 942 K105 KQJ104 A2 |
| A63 QJ9872 3 KJ7 |
Play a diamond and hope the A is with East.
A and a club finesse.
A, K and ruff a club then a heart to endplay either hand.
Draw trump and exit a spade to endplay West.
Cross to dummy with a club and then lead the 10 to sneak a diamond trick.
Playing in 6 you receive the lead of the K. You win the A pitching a heart, what suit should you play first?
| KQ94 K32 A7432 9 |
| AJ108 A654 A7654 |
Trick question--I ruff the first trick and set up the dummy.
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