It is difficult for the beginner to understand the reason for certain formulated rules for the makes, but it will pay the average novice to accept the judgment of those who have learned by, often bitter, experience. Sound makes will win in the long run, and the rules should not be scorned merely because in a few hands the cards were badly placed.
“NO-TRUMP” DECLARATION BY THE DEALER
While a good red declaration is always preferable to a doubtful “no-trumper,” yet when a bold dash for the game must be made, a forward “no-trump” declaration is the safest risk; and experience certainly shows that what is called a doubtful “no-trumper” will succeed more often than it fails. Such a declaration has a great advantage over a light red make. There is a wider range for assistance in the dummy hand. The make does not disclose the dealer’s principal strength. It offers the adversaries a larger scope for errors, and an error is more costly in a “no-trump” hand. The opponents have no means of knowing their combined strength, and for this reason their best suit may never be made; while the dealer knows the suit to establish and can arrange the lead to bring it in. In short, the dealer can utilise his strength and the adversaries’ drawbacks to the best advantage in a “no-trump” hand. As a logical consequence, a strong player may take more chances in the make.
Your goal is the game, and at a love score, this can be reached with fewest tricks at a “no-trump” declaration. Therefore, lacking a good red hand, a “no-trump” declaration that with average strength in your partner’s hand will secure the odd trick, will more often win than lose.
What constitutes an average hand, and how much help should you expect from your partner, are frequent inquiries. As the trick-taking value of a hand may depend entirely on the distribution of the remaining cards, these questions are difficult to answer. An average hand, however, contains the equivalent of one ace, one king, one queen, etc.
An established suit that can be made before the adversaries obtain the lead the second time is always a great advantage.
A “no-trump” make that is not protected in three suits is dangerous, but, even if you are entirely void of a suit with real strength in the other three, you can reasonably expect your partner to supply protection in the missing suit. Aces are an important help in establishing your suits, and are much greater strength than kings or queens, which may be led through and captured. A no-trump make without an ace is liable to score honours for the adversaries—in rare cases 100 points—and is almost never sound.
RULES FOR “NO-TRUMP” DECLARATION BY THE DEALER
There should be a certain set standard for a “no-trump” make, but at times it is difficult to draw the line that divides the hands that should be passed from those that warrant a “no-trump” declaration. It is obvious that a good player will make more with a hand than a poor one; consequently a greater risk may be taken by players who thoroughly understand the finesse and strategy of the game. The make which would prove successful if played correctly, if badly played might be disastrous. Then again your adversaries must be regarded; if pitted against weak players, you are more apt to pull a “no-trumper” through than when matched against opponents who will take advantage of any failing in your hand or play.
 | 4 | Aces. | |
| Declare | 3 | Aces. | |
| “No-trumps” | 2 | Aces and one other guarded suit. | |
| holding | 1 | Ace and three other guarded suits. | |
| 1 | long established black suit (A K Q x x x) | ||
| and one other Ace. |