Protecting your masters from the ruff

An ace or ten that gets ruffed hands a big pile of points to the opponents. So protecting your masters is a card-play priority.

Draw trumps first

The best protection is often to knock out the opponents' trumps before cashing your side suits. With no trumps, opponents must follow: your ace runs. That's the whole point of drawing trumps when you have a long, strong suit to cash.

Spot the short suits

Beware suits where an opponent is likely short or void (from bids, discards, an earlier ruff). Leading that suit risks the ruff. Better to attack a suit where everyone still holds cards.

Mind the order of tricks

Make sure the opponents can no longer ruff before cashing a side master.
If you can't draw trumps, cash quickly before the suit becomes ruffable.
Keep an entry so you don't get stranded.

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FAQ

How do you avoid getting your ace ruffed?

Usually by drawing the opponents' trumps first: with none, they must follow and your ace runs. Otherwise cash it early before the suit becomes ruffable.

How do you know if a suit risks being ruffed?

By cross-checking clues: an opponent who bid short, discarded, or already ruffed that suit is probably out of it.