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Partial drawing and Rule of One

The Rule of One states that when there is just one trump outstanding which is a master, you should normally leave it out. Why waste two of your trumps to get rid of a trump that will win anyway? As declarer, the Rule of One position (one master trump outstanding) is very powerful.

a)
Dummy
♠ K632
  b)
Dummy
♠ 8632
-------------- ♠ trumps -------------
Declarer
♠ A754
  Declarer
♠ A754

In (a), cash ♠AK then (assuming the suit splits 3-2) leave their master trump outstanding.

In (b), to reach the Rule of One position, duck the first spade. On regaining the lead, cash ♠A and (assuming a 3-2 split) leave their master trump outstanding. Note if you play ♠A and another, they can win and draw a third spade which you don’t want.

c)
Dummy
♠ 4 3 2
♥ A K 2
  d)
Dummy
♠ K 3 2
A 6 2
---------------- ♠ trumps ---------------
Declarer
♠ A 8 7 6 5
♥ Q 5 4 3
  Declarer
♠ A 7 6 5 4
♥ K 5 4 3

In (c) and (d), the aim is to ruff the fourth heart in the dummy, necessary unless hearts split 3-3. In (c), duck a spade. On regaining the lead, cash ♠A and, leaving their master trump outstanding, play AKQ and ruff 5 with ♠4. Note you do not mind if a top heart is ruffed with their master spade as you can peacefully ruff5. In (d), you must duck a heart first. On regaining the lead, you cash ♠AK to reach the Rule of One position. Then play AK and ruff 5 with ♠3. Note if you instead playAK and lose the third heart, they may lead a fourth heart with their partner ruffing from a doubleton spade — which you don’t want.

There may be another way:
South Deals
None Vul
8 4 2
K 6 4
K 6 2
A 7 4 2
Q 10
J 10 9 5
Q 10 8 4
K J 9
 
N
W   E
S
 
K J 9
8 3 2
J 9
Q 10 8 5 3
 
A 7 6 5 3
A Q 7
A 7 5 3
6
West North East South
      1 
Pass 2  Pass 2 
Pass 2 1 Pass 3 2
Pass 4  Pass Pass
Pass      
  1. Two-and-a-half Spades.
  2. The 5-4-3, showing his precise shape.

Declarer won  J lead with  A and ducked  3, West winning  10 and leading  10. Winning  Q, declarer cashed  A (both following) to reach the powerful Rule of One position. You may think he should have ducked a diamond earlier but there is an 100 per cent line (on a 3-2 spade split).

Declarer crossed to  A and ruffed  2. He crossed to  K and ruffed  4. He cashed  A, crossed to  K and ruffed  7. Ten tricks made.

 

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