Notrump

Notrump refers to a contract in the card game contract bridge in which no suit is designated as trumps. The declarer must win a specified number of tricks without the aid of a trump suit. A notrump contract is written as a level followed by NT, for example 1NT or 3NT. The level indicates the number of tricks beyond six that the declaring side must win; thus 1NT requires seven tricks and 3NT requires nine.

Bidding and hand evaluation under notrump contracts emphasize balanced hands and a clear plan. Opening bids are typically 12–14 high-card points (HCP) for 1NT, with a balanced distribution; a 2NT opening is commonly around 20–22 HCP. Because there is no trump suit, partnerships often use conventions such as Stayman to locate a four-four major-suit fit or transfer bids to find preferable suits. Responding bids depend on the responder’s strength and the partnership’s chosen notrump strategies.

In play, notrump contracts rely on accurate communication between the dummy and declarer and careful management of side suits. Without a trump suit, ruffing opportunities are limited, and the defense aims to disrupt long suits and establish tricks through careful counting and distribution. Plan and timing are crucial for establishing or denying certain suits.

Scoring for notrump contracts awards trick points for each trick won beyond six, with the first notrump trick typically valued differently from subsequent tricks. Bonuses apply for making the contract, for overtricks, and for slam contracts, while vulnerability affects bonuses and penalties. Notrump remains a central and widely used contract type in bridge, shaping both bidding and play strategies.