GUARDED SUITS
The following may be called guarded suits:
| K Q x | K J x | K x | Q J x | Q x x |
WEAK NO-TRUMP MAKES TO THE SCORE
If the score warrants the dealer in taking a chance at a weak make, it is safer to gamble at no-trump than at a weak red declaration. At no-trump the dealer's partner has a wider field for assistance, as any one good suit will help.
On the rubber game, with the score very much against him, the dealer should declare no-trump.
| Holding— |
2 Aces and a guarded Jack. 2 Aces, one suit being A K. 1 Ace, a guarded K or Q and a K Q suit. 1 Ace and two guarded suits (K or Q). 1 long established black suit and a guarded King. |
HEARTS
In considering a heart make, the dealer should be influenced by the general strength of his hand and by the number of honours he holds in the trump suit. Hearts should always be declared with four or five honours in the hand irrespective of the strength of other suits; the honour score will probably more than compensate for a possible loss of trick points. A heart declaration with less than two honours is not advisable—unless the hand contain great length in the trump suit or great strength in the other suits—as the honour scores made against the hand will usually exceed its trick value.