When one opponent has shown a weak hand with a very long suit – by preempting – then your trump contracts can be wrecked by a bad trump split or the opponents unexpectedly trumping your winners. The solution is to choose Notrumps.

This week’s declarer heeded this piece of advice - watch how he renders the preemptor’s hand useless.

South had a choice between doubling East’s 3 ♠ opener – asking partner to speak – or bidding 3 NT. Had he doubled, North would have replied 4 ♥ - not a happy contract with West holding five decent trumps. 3 NT was a far pleasanter proposition.

West led ♠ 8 and declarer ducked East’s ♠ 9. He won his ♠ A on the next round and, crucially, he knew (assuming East held seven ♠s for his three-level opener) that West had no more ♠s left. He then turned his attention to ♦s, making sure that East did not win the lead. He crossed to dummy’s ♦ A and ran ♦ J, not minding if it lost to West. In fact ♦ J won, so he followed with ♦ 9 to ♦ Q and ♦ K, and crossed to ♦ 10. He cashed ♣ AKQ and ♣ AK and so made his contract with an overtrick.

ANDREW’S TIP: If in doubt, play in Notrumps after an opponent has preempted.