Dummy Reversal

A technique for playing suit contracts in which we take ruffs in the long hand, usually declarers hand, and make the dummy high, and in the process gain a trick.  Take this example, in which declarers situation looks hopeless:

                     KT9

                     874

                     A543

                     A65

32                                 754

AK97                            QJT

876                               KQJ92

T974                            J2

                   AQJ86

                   632

                   T

                   KQ83

Against South's 4 contract the defense cashes 3 hearts and shifts to a diamond.  It appears as if South must lose a club.  But the dummy reversal creates an extra trick.  South wins the diamond and ruffs a diamond, trump to dummy, ruff a diamond, club to dummy, ruff the last diamond with the Ace, trump to dummy, draw trump and take the last 2 tricks in clubs.  Declarer's 10 tricks are, Ace, 3 ruffs, K , T, 9, and 3 clubs.

Compiled by Lorne Russell 2005