When to Play in Notrump, Opposite a Weak Hand With a Long Suit
With a strong hand, opposite a weak hand with a long suit, the right conditions for playing in notrump are quite limited, requiring all of the following:
- We expect to run the weak hand’s long suit, with no losers.
- We have enough fast sure tricks in the side suits, to make our contract (when combined with the winners in partner’s long suit).
- We expect to be able to reach the weak hand, to cash the long suit. To state the obvious, if you are void (or have singleton Ace), partner needs a side entry (plus a really solid suit); and if you are short in partner’s suit, partner needs either an entry, or especially good intermediate cards in the long suit.
- We have stoppers in each of the side suits.
Conversely, when we think that the weak hand’s long suit is unlikely to be solid, we mentally take notrump off the table.
Avoiding the Temptation to Bid Notrump When You Hold the Strong Hand
A good starting point is to realize that notrump is not just about stoppers; instead, it’s about stoppers and tricks. If you are dreaming of plus 120 or plus 150, remind yourself that (1) following dreams usually loses matchpoints; and (2) notrump scores more only if you make the contract.
We find that it’s also useful to recognize that, playing in notrump, likely it will not be possible to do all of the following: win your stopper in the suit the opponents lead, establish partner’s long suit, win your stopper in the suit the opponents return, enter partner’s hand, and cash the winners in partner’s long suit.
Avoiding the Temptation to Let Partner Declare in Notrump When You Hold the Weak Hand
Before passing partner in a notrump bid, ask yourself “Is it realistic to think that partner can run my suit?” And if not, then ask yourself “Is it realistic to think that partner can take seven (eight) (nine) tricks without running my suit?”
Realize that, playing in notrump, your hand probably takes no more than one or two tricks, whereas playing with your long suit as trumps, your hand might take four, five or more tricks.