Crossruff is a term used in card games such as bridge or whist, referring to a tactic where a player ruffs (plays a trump card) in one suit, then ruffs in another suit on the next trick. The phonetic transcription of crossruff is /ˈkrɒs rʌf/, with the stress on the first syllable. The "ss" in cross is pronounced as a voiceless fricative, similar to the "s" sound in the word "sit". The "ruff" sound is a voiced alveolar fricative, like the "v" sound in the word "love".
Crossruff is a term commonly used in card games, particularly in contract bridge and some variations of whist. It refers to a strategic play where a player alternates between two different suits during the course of a hand. This tactic involves intentionally choosing to play a lower-ranking trump suit so as to exhaust the opponents' higher-ranking trumps, while holding or trumping the opposing suit on subsequent tricks.
In crossruff, a player typically starts by leading a trump from their hand, forcing the opponents to play their higher trumps. The player then proceeds to play a card of a different suit, which they subsequently ruff (play a trump card on) using a lower-ranking trump from their hand. By alternating between the two suits in this manner, a player aims to establish tricks in both suits while at the same time depleting the opponents' higher trumps.
The crossruff strategy requires careful planning, foresight, and an understanding of the distribution of cards in all hands. It is often considered an aggressive tactic, as it allows for the generation of multiple tricks and maximizes the chances of success, provided the trumps are distributed favorably.
Overall, crossruff is a technique used in card games to gain a significant advantage over opponents by establishing tricks in two different suits through alternating trump play.
The word "crossruff" is primarily used in the context of the card game of bridge. It is derived from two separate terms: "cross" and "ruff".
- Cross: In bridge, the term "cross" refers to the process of playing a combination of long suits in order to generate extra tricks through a ruff. It involves leading a card from one suit and then later ruffing it in a different suit.
- Ruff: "Ruff" is a term used in various card games, including bridge, to describe the act of playing a trump card (usually a lower-ranked card) on a trick to win it when a player lacks the suit led.
By combining these two terms, "crossruff" describes the technique of playing cards from one suit, then switching to another suit, and ruffing in order to maximize the number of tricks won in a hand.