BridgeHands

Ruffing Out a Side Suit - Often when the declarer has a long trump suit and a long side suit, extra tricks may be obtained promoting the side suit.   Consider these hands with declarer in a 6 Spade contract.
 

	Q J 10 6 5 3 2 4 A K Q 3 2
? K Q J 10 9	Contract: 6S  Declarer: South	J A 8 7 6 5
	A K 4 3 2 A Q 3 2 7 6 5

West leads the DK, overtaking by East's DA who returns the HJ.  Rather than take the offered finesse, the declarer should consider ruffing out a side suit with this holding.

Declarer wins the HA, plays up to 3 rounds of trump, keeping Dummy entries and winning the third round in Dummy. Next win 3 rounds of Clubs, ruffing the fourth Club. Return to the Dummy by ruffing the D3.  Assuming neither opponent has 5 Clubs, declarer has promoted the little C3 , pitching the questionable HQ to make Slam.