crossruff

American  

[kraws-ruhf, -ruhf, kros-, kraws-ruhf, kros-] / ˈkrɔsˌrʌf, -ˈrʌf, ˈkrɒs-, ˈkrɔsˈrʌf, ˈkrɒs- /

noun

1. a play in which each hand of a partnership alternately trumps a different suit in consecutive plays.

---

verb (used with or without object)

1. to play by means of a crossruff.

crossruff British  

/ ˈkrɒsˌrʌf /

noun

1. the alternate trumping of each other's leads by two partners, or by declarer and dummy

---

verb

1. (intr) to trump alternately in two hands of a partnership

Etymology

Origin of crossruff

First recorded in 1585–95; cross- + ruff ²

Example Sentences

After East ruffed, South overruffed, cashed his heart ace and king, then claimed the rest of the tricks on a crossruff.

From New York Times • Feb. 25, 2015

Yes, Zia would have been all right with diamonds 3-2 or West’s having king-doubleton of spades, but Grue realized that a crossruff would work almost whatever the distribution.

From New York Times • May 15, 2011

When you are planning a crossruff, cash all of your side-suit winners first.

From New York Times • Aug. 11, 2010

He led a spade to dummy’s king, then called for a low spade to open the lines for a crossruff.

From New York Times • Mar. 8, 2010

Spring ferment set up a crossruff resulting in terror, self-mortification, pneumonia.

From Time Magazine Archive