Usage of The Word "ruff" Vs. "trump"
"Ruff" is normally a verb, meaning "to play a trump card when a non-trump suit was led". "To trump" can be used as a synonym of "to ruff", but "ruff" is normally preferred, for clarity. As a noun, "ruff" and "trump" are completely different -- "a ruff" means only "an instance of ruffing", while "(a) trump" means only "the suit that outranks all other suits", or "a card in this suit". Hence:
- One can "give a ruff" to partner but not "give a trump".
- "Hearts are trumps" but not "Hearts are ruffs".
- "Cross ruffing" and "cross trumping" are both correct, but "cross ruffing" is preferred.
- "Ruff and discard" is common usage but "trump and discard" is not.
Read more about this topic: Ruff (cards)
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