The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-16
ARTICLE W. No Trump Declarations.

Many players are at sea as to what really constitutes a sound initial one no trump declaration. They look over their cards. find no long major suits, and bid no trump. because they see several face cards and perhaps an ace. It may be sound no trump and may be. not. One is as likely as the other.
 A sound one no trump hand must have little more than average high card strength with three guarded suits. Experience shows that the, greater strength should equal the value of a queen.
 There are two good methods of cal culating no trumpers. One is by the Robertson rule, which is universally accepted by the English bridge writers and in London clubs. The other method is based on the scale used in auction pitch. and which, although both sound and simple Is put forward by only one American writer. It is approved and used, however, by many good players.
 The Robertson rule makes aces counts ! points, kings 5, queens B. ard jacks 1. Under it three guarded units With 19 points Is a sound one no trump. The average hand should contain the equivalent of an ace king, queen and jack, which would count up 16 points in all. An addi tioLal queen value of makes up the necessary 19 points.
 A simple Rule for No Trumpers-
 The rule based on the auction pitcl scale mathematically figures out ex- actly the same as the Robertson rule Since 1t is the easier of the two tt remember we have adopted 1t here, Under it aces count points, kings 3, queens 2, and jacks l. All the aces and face cards in a deck total up to 40 points. The numbered cards are not considered. An average hand is one-fourth of 40, which Is 10 points. The additional strength of a queen being ? points, sound ini- tial one no trump under this rule is 12 points with three guarded suits
 guarded suit is an ace, king with one small card, a queen with two small, or a jack with three small. Some players consider that the queen should have three small to be really protected, and that one of the three cards accompanying the lack should be ten. This is not un- reasonable. but if followed strictly would reduce the number of no trump declarations without a corro- spending advantage. In counting the points for your trump hand add up the value of every face card, whether it is or is not in the unguarded suit.
 As above stated. 12 points with ..1..l ...tf mi one no trump. Eleven points with two guarded suits is a weak no trump. It is only jack value above the average hand instead of queen value.
 sixteen Points n Two No Trump.
 For a two no trump add the equiv alent of an ace or four points to your standard one no trump making It points That is, the equivalent or one additional sure trick.
 Unless you are an experienced player two suit no trumps are too risky, as you must depend on your partner for both your weak suits The odds are about four to one against his being strong in both. h. cidentally, the weaker player Is, the more, caution he should observe in his bidding.
 Here are several sounu oHe nv trump declarations, based on three guarded suits with the face. cards counting 12 points.
 Spades-Ace and two small.
 Hearts--Ace and three small.
 Diamonds-Three small.
 Clubs-Ace and three small.
 Each ace counting 4. the aces make up the 12 points, with the suits guarded
 Spades-Ace and two small
 Hearts-King and two small.
 Diamonds-Queen. jack and three small.
 Clubs-Queen and one small.
 Here the 12 points are made up or one ace. one king 8, two queens each, and one jack l. with suits guarded.
 Mator Suits Better Than No Trumps
 If you have hand in which all four suits are guarded, a no trump bid is better than a five-card major suit bid. If, however, your major suit contains more than five cards, topped by ace. king, then 1t might be better to bid the major suit.
 Some writers maintain that it IS always best to bid the no trump first, as it shuts out all suit declara- tions of one, and deprives the ad- versaries of making one suit bids, which might be worked up into