Ruff and Sluff: Bridge’s Classic Defensive Gift

Ever given declarer a trick for free? If you’ve played bridge defense for any length of time, you’ve probably committed the dreaded “ruff and sluff” error. It’s one of those mistakes that makes you cringe the moment the card leaves your hand.

But what exactly is a ruff and sluff, and why is it such a big deal? More importantly, how can you avoid giving one—and when might you actually want to give one? Let’s dive into one of bridge’s most common defensive errors.

What Is a Ruff and Sluff?

A ruff and sluff (also called a “ruff and discard” or sometimes just “ruff-sluff”) occurs when a defender leads a suit in which both declarer and dummy are void. This allows declarer to ruff in one hand while discarding a loser from the other hand.

Here’s the basic scenario:

  • You’re defending a suit contract
  • You lead a suit that neither declarer nor dummy has any cards in
  • Declarer ruffs in one hand (let’s say dummy)
  • Declarer discards a losing card from the other hand (their own hand)
  • Result: Declarer just got rid of a loser for free

The term “ruff and sluff” comes from “ruff and slough” where “slough” means to discard or shed—like a snake sloughing off its skin. Over time, it became “sluff” in bridge parlance.

A Simple Example

You’re defending 4♠. The trump suit is spades. Here’s what you can see:

Dummy (North)
♠ K 4 3
♥ —
♦ Q J 10
♣ A K Q J 10

Declarer (South)
♠ A Q J 10 9
♥ 8 7 6
♦ —
♣ 8 7 6 5

Both dummy and declarer are void in hearts. If you (as East or West) lead a heart, declarer will ruff in dummy (or declarer’s hand, doesn’t matter which) and discard a losing club from declarer’s hand. You just gave away a trick that declarer had no right to win.

Why Giving a Ruff and Sluff Is Usually Bad

The problem with a ruff and sluff is simple: you’re letting declarer accomplish two things that benefit them:

  1. They get to ruff (which uses up one of their trumps, but in a controlled way)
  2. They get to discard a loser (which eliminates a trick you might have won later)

The second part is the killer. Declarer had, say, three losing clubs. You could have cashed your ♣A later for a defensive trick. But by giving a ruff and sluff, you let declarer throw away one of those club losers. Now declarer only has two club losers instead of three.

The Mathematics of Loss

When you give a ruff and sluff, you typically cost your side one full trick. Here’s why:

  • Declarer was going to lose a trick to your side (let’s say that club loser)
  • By discarding it on a ruff and sluff, they avoid that loss
  • Net result: one fewer trick for the defense, one more trick for declarer

In competitive bridge, where making or going down one can be worth hundreds of points or swing entire matches, giving away a trick is painful.

When Declarer Wants a Ruff and Sluff

Understanding when declarer benefits from a ruff and sluff helps you understand when to avoid giving one.

Declarer loves a ruff and sluff when they have:

1. Unavoidable Losers in a Side Suit

If declarer has ♥8-7-6 opposite ♥4-3-2, they’re going to lose heart tricks. But if you give them a ruff and sluff, they can pitch one or more of those hearts and reduce their losers.

2. No Other Way to Get Rid of Losers

Sometimes declarer has no winning plays. They can’t finesse their way out of trouble, can’t establish a side suit, and can’t squeeze anyone. A ruff and sluff might be their only hope—so don’t give it to them!

3. Entry Problems

Even if declarer could establish a side suit in dummy, they might lack entries to cash those winners. A ruff and sluff solves this by letting them discard losers directly without needing those entries.

4. Trump Control Issues

If declarer is worried about losing trump control, a ruff and sluff can help. They ruff in the hand with shorter trumps, effectively using dummy’s trumps as their primary trump holding.

How to Avoid Giving a Ruff and Sluff

The golden rule is simple: Don’t lead a suit in which both declarer and dummy are void.

But how do you know when both hands are void? Here are practical tips:

1. Count, Count, Count

This is the defensive player’s mantra. Count how many cards have been played in each suit. If all 13 hearts have appeared and you know declarer and dummy started with only 5 hearts total, guess what? They’re both likely void by now.

2. Visualize the Layout

As cards are played, picture what declarer and dummy have left. If dummy showed up with three hearts and declarer ruffed the third round, dummy is now void in hearts. If declarer then leads a spade and dummy follows with all their spades, you now know dummy has only diamonds and clubs left.

3. Watch the Bidding

The auction tells a story. If declarer opened 1♠ and rebid 2♠, they likely have six spades. If dummy supported with 3♠, dummy probably has three. That’s 9 spades between them, leaving only 4 for you and partner. This information helps you count distribution.

4. Make Safe Leads

When in doubt, lead trumps. Yes, the old “when in doubt, lead trumps” advice applies here. You can’t give a ruff and sluff by leading trumps (since at least declarer has trumps). Leading trumps might be passive, but it’s safe.

Alternatively, lead through strength. If dummy has ♦K-Q-J visible, leading a diamond (if declarer still has diamonds) is safe—you’re not giving a ruff and sluff.

5. Exit Safely After Winning a Trick

You just won a trick with your ♠K. What now? Before leading anything, ask yourself: “Could this be a suit where both opponents are void?” If yes, find something else to lead.

When a Ruff and Sluff Doesn’t Matter

Here’s the fun part: sometimes giving a ruff and sluff doesn’t hurt you at all. Understanding these situations separates good defenders from great ones.

1. Declarer Has No Losers to Discard

If declarer’s hand is solid (all winners in the side suits), discarding doesn’t help them. They weren’t going to lose those tricks anyway.

Dummy: ♠ K 4 3, ♥ —, ♦ A K Q, ♣ A K Q J
Declarer: ♠ A Q J 10 9, ♥ 6 5, ♦ —, ♣ 10 9 8 7

Leading a heart gives a ruff and sluff, but declarer discards… what? A diamond winner? A club that’s good after the ♣A-K are cashed? It doesn’t matter because declarer has no losers.

2. Declarer Is Ruffing a Loser Anyway

Sometimes declarer was already planning to ruff their losers in dummy. Your ruff and sluff doesn’t give them anything new—they were going to do this anyway with proper play.

3. You’re Executing an Endplay

Advanced defensive technique: sometimes you deliberately give a ruff and sluff to force declarer to commit to a line of play, or to avoid giving up something worse.

4. Declarer Can’t Reach the Hand with Losers

If declarer has losers in hand but no way to get there to discard them, the ruff and sluff might not help. Though be careful—giving a ruff and sluff might itself create the entry they need!

5. The Suit With Losers Is Already Protected

If you and partner have the suit with declarer’s losers well controlled (like ♣A-Q-J over dummy’s ♣K), declarer can’t escape those losers anyway. Discarding one doesn’t help when you can still get your tricks later.

When to Deliberately Give a Ruff and Sluff

Yes, there are rare situations where giving a ruff and sluff is actually the right defense. These are advanced plays, but they’re worth knowing:

1. To Avoid Breaking a Frozen Suit

Imagine this club position:

        ♣ K J 4
♣ A 10 6           ♣ Q 9 2
        ♣ 8 7 5

You’re on lead. If you lead a club, you break up the position and declarer gets an extra trick. If you lead anything else and it gives a ruff and sluff, declarer pitches a club—but still only gets one club trick. You lost the same trick either way, but at least you didn’t actively break the suit.

2. The Trump Promotion Defense

Sometimes giving a ruff and sluff creates a trump trick for your side through an uppercut or similar play. This is rare but spectacular when it works.

3. To Force Declarer to Use an Entry

If dummy has one entry left and declarer needs that entry for something important (like finessing in another suit), giving a ruff and sluff that forces declarer to ruff in dummy might waste that entry.

4. You’re Already Endplayed

If every lead you make breaks a suit and costs a trick, giving a ruff and sluff might be the least damaging option. At least you lose only one trick instead of two.

Example Hands: Ruff and Sluff in Action

Let’s look at some complete examples to see how this works in practice.

Example 1: The Classic Error

North (Dummy)
♠ A 7 4
♥ K 5 3
♦ K Q J 10
♣ 8 6 4

West                East
♠ 6 5               ♠ 3 2
♥ Q 10 9 7          ♥ J 6 4 2
♦ 9 7 6             ♦ 8 5 4 3
♣ K Q J 10          ♣ 9 7 2

South (Declarer)
♠ K Q J 10 9 8
♥ A 8
♦ A 2
♣ A 5 3

Contract: 4♠ by South

West leads ♣K (top of sequence). Declarer wins ♣A, draws trumps in three rounds (both defenders following), then cashes ♦A-K-Q-J, discarding the ♥8.

Now declarer leads a heart to the ♥K, which holds. Declarer leads another heart from dummy. East wins ♥A and… does what?

If East leads another heart (both declarer and dummy are now void), they give a ruff and sluff. Declarer ruffs in one hand and discards the ♣3 from the other. Now declarer only has one club loser instead of two. 4♠ makes.

Correct defense: East should lead a club, giving partner’s ♣Q a trick. 4♠ goes down one.

Example 2: When It Doesn’t Matter

North (Dummy)
♠ K 4 3
♥ 8 6 5
♦ A K Q J 10
♣ 6 2

West                East
♠ 7 6               ♠ 5 2
♥ K Q J 10 9        ♥ 7 4 3 2
♦ 8 6               ♦ 7 5 4 3
♣ Q J 10 9          ♣ 8 7 4

South (Declarer)
♠ A Q J 10 9 8
♥ A
♦ 9 2
♣ A K 5 3

Contract: 6♠ by South

West leads ♥K. Declarer wins ♥A, draws trumps, and runs dummy’s diamonds, discarding all three club losers.

At trick 11, West is on lead and only has hearts left. Leading a heart gives a ruff and sluff, but so what? Declarer has no losers left to discard! The slam makes regardless.

Example 3: The Necessary Ruff and Sluff

North (Dummy)
♠ 9 6 5
♥ K 4 3
♦ A 8 7 6
♣ K 4 3

West                East
♠ 4 3 2             ♠ 7
♥ Q 10 9 7          ♥ J 8 6 5
♦ K 5               ♦ Q J 10 9
♣ Q J 10 9          ♣ 8 7 6 2

South (Declarer)
♠ A K Q J 10 8
♥ A 2
♦ 4 3 2
♣ A 5

Contract: 4♠ by South

West leads ♣Q. Declarer wins ♣K, draws trumps in four rounds (East showing out on the third round), and leads a diamond from dummy.

East plays ♦Q, declarer ducks! East continues ♦J, declarer ducks again! East plays ♦10, declarer wins ♦A.

Now declarer leads a diamond from dummy. East is on lead with only hearts and clubs left. Dummy and declarer are both void in diamonds.

Whatever East leads, declarer makes 4♠:

  • Lead a heart: Declarer has ♥A-K, no problem
  • Lead a club: Declarer has ♣A-5, no problem

But wait—East could give a ruff and sluff by leading a diamond! Does it matter?

No! Declarer can pitch a heart from one hand and ruff in the other, or pitch a club from one hand and ruff in the other. Either way, declarer was already making. East was endplayed—every lead gives up the contract.

Common Ruff and Sluff Mistakes

Let’s catalog the typical errors that lead to giving ruff and sluffs:

1. Not Counting Trumps

“I didn’t realize dummy was out of trumps!” This happens when you don’t track how many trumps have been played. Count them!

2. Continuing Partner’s Suit Blindly

Partner led hearts, so you continue hearts… without noticing that both declarer and dummy have shown out. This is the most common ruff and sluff mistake.

3. Leading “Through Strength” Carelessly

You see ♦K-Q-J in dummy and think “I’ll lead through strength” by leading diamonds. But wait—is declarer void in diamonds? Check first!

4. Panic Exits

You win a trick unexpectedly and panic. “Uhh… I’ll just lead this.” Without thinking, you lead the suit everyone’s void in. Take your time!

5. Ignoring the Bidding

Declarer bid 1♥-1♠-3♠-4♠, showing 6+ spades and heart shortness. Dummy supported spades. By the time trumps are drawn and some hearts played, both hands are likely void in hearts. Don’t lead one!

6. Not Recognizing Elimination Plays

Declarer is stripping side suits to endplay you. You need to recognize when declarer is trying to eliminate safe exits so that anything you lead gives a ruff and sluff or breaks a new suit. In these positions, sometimes you need to attack before you’re endplayed.

7. Forgetting About Card Placement

You have ♥A-K-Q-2. You cash ♥A-K-Q and both opponents follow all three times. Now you lead ♥2. “Wait, why are they both void?” Because you eliminated all their hearts! Be aware of what you’re doing to the hand.

Practice Makes Perfect

The best way to avoid giving ruff and sluffs is to:

  1. Count every suit as the hand progresses
  2. Visualize what declarer and dummy have left
  3. Think before leading to any trick
  4. Remember the bidding for distribution clues
  5. Learn from mistakes when you do give one

Every experienced bridge player has given countless ruff and sluffs over their career. The key is recognizing when you’ve done it, understanding why it was wrong, and learning to avoid it next time.

Conclusion: The Gift You Don’t Want to Give

A ruff and sluff is usually a defensive error that hands declarer a free trick. By leading a suit where both opponents are void, you let declarer ruff in one hand while discarding a loser from the other—the equivalent of gift-wrapping a trick and handing it over.

But bridge is a game of exceptions. Sometimes a ruff and sluff doesn’t matter because declarer has no losers to pitch. Rarely, giving a ruff and sluff is actually correct because every other lead is worse.

The mark of a good defender is knowing the difference. Count your suits, watch the cards, think before leading, and you’ll give far fewer ruff and sluffs. Your partners will thank you, and your results will improve.

Now, the next time someone asks “What’s a ruff and sluff?”, you’ll not only know the answer—you’ll understand why it matters, when to avoid it, and when it’s actually okay. That’s the kind of bridge knowledge that separates the novices from the experts.

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