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ruff

ruff

9.9
Playing a trump card to win a trick when you cannot follow suit
  • noun
  • /rʌf/
  • Jargon
translation icon : corte
  • He played a ruff to win the trick.

Examples

  • Her last two ruffs surprised the players and turned the game in her favor.

  • A clever ruff can sometimes change the outcome of a close match.

  • Unable to follow suit, he decided to ruff with a heart and took the trick.

  • During the game, I had to make a ruff to stay in.

  • In the bridge game, my ruff with the queen of spades allowed me to secure a vital trick.

  • After failing to follow suit, he had no choice but to play a quick ruff with his trump card.

  • She made an impressive ruff during the game, demonstrating her skill in strategy.

Synonyms

trumping
vsruff
  • Jargon
1 7.5

Using a trump card to win a trick when you cannot play the same suit

is the same action but named as a traditional card game noun

Compounds

neck ruff
  • Archaic
9.9

A high, stiff collar made of linen or lace worn around the neck

Surface Forms

ruff singular
ruffs plural

Etymology

A helpful way to remember the card noun ruff is to imagine a special collar that wins attention: in cards a ruff is using a trump to win a trick, so the word is about taking control of the play.