Playing A NoTrump Contract

A NoTrump Contract

When playing bridge we often play a hand where there is notrump suit. All bridge players know that the big advantage of the notrump contract is that game requires only nine tricks whereas game in any suit requires either 10 or 11.

So we will often opt for a notrump contract even when we have a fit in a suit.

What Are The Dangers?

Obviously the dangers are that the opponents will take too many tricks and we will be defeated.

Assuming we are playing a contract of three notrumps, we are faced with having to take nine of the thirteen tricks in order to accomplish our mission.

The opponents are going to lead the suit that they think will offer them the best chance of taking enough tricks to defeat this contract.

Losing Control

The very first thing we have to do after the first card is led is to count the number of tricks we can take without any difficulty. When we subtract that number from nine we know how many tricks we have to develop in order to accomplish the desired result.

The danger is always going to be that the opponents will establish enough tricks before we can develop the extra ones we require.

This means that the first thing to attack is the suit that is going to bring the greatest number of tricks. For instance, if you have a suit where you have the king, queen and possibly the jack, but not the ace, this is the first attack so that when they win their ace and return the suit they are working on, you will have established a certain number of tricks, hopefully enough for the contract. Then if you can afford to lose the lead yet again, establish another number of tricks in another suit as quickly as possible.

Possible Mistakes

There are two mistakes that are easy to make when playing a notrump contract. One is to win your sure tricks before you establish the one(s) you need from another suit or suits.

The other mistake is to all of a sudden discover that you have good tricks in the dummy and no way to get to them.

Communication

Communication between your hand and the dummy is a vital element of success. If you have only limited access to the dummy make sure you don't accidentally waste one unnecessarily. I am here as a witness to having taken the first trick in the dummy with the ace when I could have taken it in my hand with the king and later on discovering that I am one entry short of being able to take advantage of the dummy and the tricks that are there for the taking.

Conclusion

You can never be too careful at the bridge table. When playing a notrump contract you have to discipline yourself to examine the whole hand before you play the dummy's card to the first trick. You must decide where your tricks are likely to come from and how you are going to go about accomplishing this.

When you master the art of playing notrump you will feel a lot better and certainly feel like a real bridge player.

I look forward to meeting you at the bridge table one day.

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