Crossruffing or ruffing in one hand. Choosing the MASTER hand.

Playing suit contracts there is aften a question about whether or when to draw trumps, or whether you should attempt to ruff in one or in both hands.

You can replay the hands using these links:
https://tinyurl.com/5n9x44ux

This was played only making 6 tricks – attempting to ruff hearts in the long hand https://tinyurl.com/27nh4y5k

https://tinyurl.com/4dhfsedn - attempting to ruff diamonds in dummy did not work well either as East expected to be short in diamonds.

Here is a hand suitable for a crossruff: http://tinyurl.com/ybylt3u4
- Apart from one low trump in each hand, you have all high trumps
- You plan to cross ruff, and never draw trumps
- You should cash any side winners early or they may get ruffed by the defence
- The best opening lead is a trump as this cuts down declarer’s ability to crossruff
- When planning a crossruff, it is easier to count your winners rather than losers.

This time the crossruff is not suitable, as you have club winners to cash, you will have to draw trumps or they will be ruffed. http://tinyurl.com/yajukg6u  If you attempt to crossruff you will lose control of trumps, and not be able to cash your clubs (Just making 10 tricks)

Instead – aim to ruff in just one hand: Either ruff spades in dummy, or diamonds in your own hand: On this hand, ruffing diamonds is probably easier – and less likely (based on the bidding) to lead to an overruff (East is short in spades) http://tinyurl.com/y853bt74 (12 tricks)
Note that it is a mistake to try to cash 2 diamonds first. http://tinyurl.com/y6v82hfk (10 tricks)