Defending Against a Long Suit in Dummy

When dummy goes down with a long, strong suit and little else, that suit is declarer's main source of tricks. If dummy has no outside entry, the suit is only worth something while declarer can still lead it from hand. Your job is to take your stopper at the moment declarer has run out.

Why it works

Declarer needs to cross to dummy to enjoy the long suit. If you win your ace on the first round, declarer still holds a card of the suit and can lead it to dummy's established winners. If you hold up until declarer has none left, dummy's winners are stranded and declarer must find tricks elsewhere.

A worked example: Cutting off dummy's diamonds

The Contract: 3NT by South. You are East.

Dummy (North):

♠ 7 4 2

♥ 6 3

♦ K Q J 10 9

♣ 8 5 3

6 HCP — no outside entry.

Your Hand (East):

♠ K 10 8 5

♥ 9 7 4

♦ A 6 3

♣ Q 10 6

9 HCP.

Declarer wins the opening lead and leads the ♦7 to dummy's king. Partner plays the ♦4, the start of a count signal. You play low.

Declarer continues with the ♦2. Partner follows with the ♦5. Low-then-higher shows an odd number, so partner has three diamonds (♦ 8 5 4) and declarer started with just two. Win this second round with the ♦A.

Declarer has no diamonds left and dummy has no other way in. Dummy's three remaining diamond winners are dead, and declarer has made one diamond trick instead of four.

Four common mistakes

• Winning the ace on the first round "in case it goes away" — the ace never goes away; it only matters when you take it.

• Holding up one round too many and letting declarer score an extra trick when declarer started with fewer cards than you thought.

• Ignoring partner's count signal, which tells you exactly when declarer runs out.

• Forgetting that a hold-up is pointless if dummy has an outside entry such as an ace in another suit.

When the rule does not apply

If dummy has an outside entry, holding up only delays declarer. Then the better defence is often to attack that entry first — lead the suit that removes it before the long suit is set up. Equally, if you can see enough tricks to beat the contract as soon as you win, take them rather than holding up.

Key takeaways

• Dummy's long suit is only valuable if declarer can reach it.

• Use partner's count signal to work out when declarer runs out.

• Win your stopper on the round when declarer plays their last card of the suit.

• If dummy has an outside entry, consider knocking it out instead.