Be cautious about declaring no-trumps when weak in the red suits.
Avoid all weak red makes on partner's pass.
Declare clubs instead of spades when you hold but one or two spades and a club suit of four or more cards including two honours.
Declare your best suit at a score of 24 all on the rubber game.
+-----------------+-----------------------------+ | LEAD | FROM | +-----------------+-----------------------------+ | Ace | Ace and others | | | Ace, King only | +-----------------+-----------------------------+ | King | Ace, King, Queen | | | Ace, King X | +-----------------+-----------------------------+ | Queen | Queen, Jack, ten | | | Queen, Jack, nine | +-----------------+-----------------------------+ | Jack | Jack, ten X | | | Jack X | +-----------------+-----------------------------+ | Ten | King, Jack, ten | | | Ten X | +-----------------+-----------------------------+ | Nine | Nine X | +-----------------+-----------------------------+ | Top Card | All short suits except | | | King X X or Queen X X | +-----------------+-----------------------------+ | 4th Best | All other combinations | +-----------------+-----------------------------+ X indicates others.
+---------------+-------------------------------------+ | LEAD | HOLDING | +---------------+-------------------------------------+ | Ace | Ace, Queen, Jack, and others, with | | | a re-entry card. | | | Ace, with 7 or more others. | | | Ace, Queen, with 5 others. | | | Ace, Jack, with 5 others. | +---------------+-------------------------------------+ | King | Ace, King, Queen, and others. | | | Ace, King, Jack, and others. | | | Ace, King, ten, and 3 others, with | | | a re-entry card. | | | Ace, King, and 5 or more others. | | | King, Queen, Jack, and others. | | | King, Queen, ten, and others. | | | King, Queen, and 5 others. | +---------------+-------------------------------------+ | Queen | Queen, Jack, ten, and others. | | | Queen, Jack, nine, and others. | | | Ace, Queen, Jack, and others. No | | | card of re-entry. | +---------------+-------------------------------------+ | Jack | Jack, ten, nine, and others. | +---------------+-------------------------------------+ | Ten | King, Jack, ten, and others. | +---------------+-------------------------------------+ | Highest or | A weak long suit containing no | | Second | honour higher than ten. | | Best | | +---------------+-------------------------------------+ | 4th Best | Form other combinations. | +---------------+-------------------------------------+