The singleton trump (atout sec)
Updated
An atout sec (singleton trump) is when you hold only one trump. A tricky spot, but not a losing one.
Definition
A card is “sec” (bare) when it's alone in its category. A singleton trump is therefore a lone trump in hand: once you play it, you have none left. A bare ace on the side is an ace with no other card of that suit.
How to play it
There's no absolute rule. If your singleton trump is a master (jack, nine), use it to ruff or seize the lead at the right moment. If it's weak, dropping it on an opponent's trump lead often discards it painlessly. It all depends on the contract, your seat and your partner's bid. A good player adapts rather than applying one recipe.
Example: the bare 9 under the Jack
On defence you hold the 9 of trumps alone. Declarer leads the Jack of trumps. You must follow in trumps and you only have one, so your 9 falls under the Jack. Declarer banks 20 + 14, that's 34 points in a single trick, before even counting the other cards.
The other way round, if you hold a bare Jack, it cannot be beaten: sooner or later it wins a trick. The real question is when you play it, for instance ruffing a fat trick rather than letting it drop on a trump lead with nothing else to collect.
Three guidelines depending on your seat
- You are declarer: bidding with a single trump is very risky unless you play a specific system. See the particular case of bidding with a bare trump Jack.
- You are declarer's partner: your lone trump may be enough to ruff a suit you've run out of. If your partner draws trumps, it will fall anyway.
- You are defending: a small bare trump (7, 8) is worth no points, so losing it on a trump lead costs next to nothing. A bare 9 or Ace, on the other hand, is a target.
These are guidelines, not laws: the auction, what has already been played and what your partner has shown can all change the right decision.
Want to practise? Play coinche online for free: tunable AIs and a coach are waiting for you on Coincheur.See also
FAQ
What is a singleton trump?
It's holding only one trump in hand. As soon as you play it, you're left with no trumps.
Should you play your singleton trump right away?
No single rule: a master singleton trump can ruff at the right moment, a weak one is often discarded on a trump lead. It depends on the situation.
Is a bare 9 of trumps always lost?
No, but it's fragile: if the Jack is led while your 9 is your only trump, you must play it and it gets captured. If it survives until the Jack has gone, it becomes the master trump.
Can you bid with a single trump?
It's rarely advisable: declarer needs trumps to control the deal. Some conventions allow it with a bare Jack and plenty of Aces, but it's a gamble you have to own.