Choosing the trump suit: the longest one?
"Take your longest suit" is a good starting reflex. But in coinche, the quality of your trumps matters as much as their number.
Why length matters
The more trumps you hold in a suit, the more control you keep: you can ruff other suits and exhaust the opponents'. A 5-card trump suit is a solid base. That's why the longest suit is often a good starting point for choosing trump.
When quality wins
Length isn't everything. The jack (20) and nine (14) are the decisive trump cards. Four trumps with jack and nine are often better than five small trumps with no honour. A short but honour-packed suit can be a better trump than a long, soft one.
Weighing the two
- Long and solid (jack/nine + length): the most comfortable choice.
- Long but weak: useful for ruffing, but fragile on big tricks.
- Short but master: tempting, provided you have support elsewhere.
No rule forces one choice: weigh length and honours together, and account for what your partner may have bid.
See also
FAQ
Should you always take your longest suit as trump?
It's a good reflex, but not a rule. A slightly shorter suit rich in jack and nine can be a better trump. Quality matters as much as length.
Do the jack and nine really change things?
Yes. In trumps the jack is worth 20 and the nine 14: they're the two master cards. Holding them strongly steers the choice of trump suit.