Trumping

Trumping refers to a specific action taken in the card game of bridge. When a player has no cards of the suit that was led, they may choose to play a card from the trump suit. This action is called trumping. If a card of the trump suit is played, it outranks any card of any other suit, regardless of its rank. For example, a low trump card will beat any card from a non-trump suit, even if that card is the Ace of its suit.

The trump suit is typically determined at the beginning of a bridge hand during the auction phase. One player declares a suit as trump, or the contract may be "no trump," meaning no trump suit is in play. The decision to trump a trick is strategic. Players may choose to trump to win a trick they otherwise would have lost, or to draw out high cards from their opponents' hands. Conversely, they may hold back their trump cards if they believe they can win the trick with a non-trump card or if they want to save their trumps for later in the hand.

The ability to trump is a fundamental mechanic in bridge and significantly influences bidding and play. Understanding when and how to use trump cards is crucial for successful bridge play. Players must carefully consider the distribution of cards, the bids made by opponents, and the potential consequences of playing a trump card on any given trick.