In previous articles, we've discussed how to investigate and choose the right trump suit when you have two known or potential fits. Suit quality can be important, but on many deals, the deciding factor should be which contract will make the best use of your trumps.
To make that assessment, you need to look into the future and predict how the play might develop. Start by identifying a likely opening lead, then try to determine where your tricks will come from. Will your contract depend mainly on high-card power or will you need to score trumps separately? Are there potential problems with pulling trumps, setting up side-suit tricks, handling a forcing defense?
Your analysis will be most accurate after longer auctions where partner has given you a good picture of his strength and distribution. Other auctions will require more guesswork, especially those where you're stopping in a partscore and don't have room to exchange complete information. In these situations, these general guidelines may help you make choice-of-trump decisions:
If you have two possible major-suit fits and full high-card values for game:
Choose the game that will offer the greatest number of tricks if suits break normally. That will usually be the suit that is more evenly divided (4-4 instead of 5-3 or 6-2).
Don't rush the auction or settle for the sure thing (a 5-3 fit) if you believe a 4-4 fit is possible and will play better. Give partner a chance to show another 4-card suit.
There are situations where a 5-3 fit will be superior to a 4-4. Consider choosing the 5-3 if:
● You have extra values with good high-card strength in the other two suits.
● You have a third source of natural tricks (a strong side suit). This may allow you to pitch losers from the 4-4 fit.
● The 5-card hand is balanced and the 3-card hand has a ruffing value, even a doubleton.
● The 4-4 fit is very weak. Intermediate cards may be needed if you run into a bad trump break, which will happen about a third of the time.
If you're stretching to game:
Prefer the safer contract, even if it's a minor. That will often be the fit that is unevenly divided -- a 6-2 instead of a 5-3, a 5-3 instead of a 4-4. The extra length can take forces and handle bad breaks better.
If you and partner both have long suits and there's a big disparity in high-card strength in your two hands, make the weaker hand the declarer. Since the weak hand will have fewer outside entries, its long suit may score tricks only if it's trumps -- especially if the suit is topless (missing the ace or king or both).
At slam level:
Most of the guidelines above can be followed when evaluating slam contracts. The main exception is that minor suits deserve more attention. If you need the flexibility of an evenly divided trump suit, consider a 4-4 fit in a minor instead of a 5-3 fit in a major.
Trump quality is critical. When in doubt, choose the stronger trump fit, even if it's a minor.
If you're loaded with high-card points and don't expect to rely heavily on ruffing tricks, go for the higher-scoring major contract (or notrump).
Partscores:
Safety is your main concern. The weaker your hand, the more important it is to play in a long suit, whether it's a major or a minor.
With limited values, you won't usually gain an advantage by choosing a 4-4 fit
instead of
a 5-3. If you've already found a playable contract, don't risk pushing the
auction higher to look for a 4-4 fit.
© 2015 Karen Walker