Uppercut

An uppercut is a type of trump promotion for the defense. It occurs when a defender ruffs a trick and forces declarer (or dummy) to overruff. Partner's trump holding is then elevated as an extra winner.

The uppercut presumably got its moniker because the defense's ruff is like a punch that knocks out one of declarer's trump winners.

		Dummy
		9875
		Q432
West		T8		East
Q2		AQJ		J6
AK987				65
753		Declarer		QJ642
T97		AKT43		K542
		JT
		AK9
		863

South plays in 4. On the surface, it looks like only two hearts and a club will be lost. However, West starts the defense by leading three rounds of hearts. East ruffs the third round with the J. Declarer is forced to overruff with a top spade. West's Q is now promoted into the setting trick.

In the next deal, South is playing in 4:

		Dummy
		9875
		532
West		865		East
AT		AKQ		6432
A97				Q8
KQJ432		Declarer		97
T9		KQJ		J7532
		KJT64
		AT
		864

West's opening lead is the K, won by South's ace. South crosses to dummy with a club and takes the double finesse in hearts, losing to West's ace. The layout is now:

		Dummy
		9875
		53
West		86		East
AT		KQ		6432
97				Q
QJ432		Declarer		7
T		KQJ		J753
		KJ64
		T
		86

If West returns anything but a diamond, South can draw the remaining trumps and make the contract.

However, if West cashes the Q and continues with a diamond, East can ruff with the Q, forcing declarer to overruff. West's 9 then becomes the setting trick.