When to bid All Trump?
Updated
In All Trump, all four suits are trump at once. The jacks become kings: each is worth 14 points.
A scale ruled by jacks
In All Trump, the jack is worth 14, the nine 9, the ace 6, the 10 worth 5, the king 3, the queen 1. Holding several jacks means controlling the contract from the top. Four jacks in hand is a dream for this contract.
What kind of hand?
- Several jacks, the heart of All Trump.
- Nines to back up the jacks.
- A shape that leaves you master in several suits.
Strengths and limits
Since every suit is trump, anyone can ruff anywhere: tricks are won by rank, not by ruffing. A hand without jacks or nines is weak here, even if it looks pretty in a normal contract. All Trump isn't automatically the best call just because you hold two jacks: always compare it with a suit contract or No Trump before deciding.
The All Trump scale to remember
| Card | All Trump | Trump (normal contract) |
|---|---|---|
| Jack | 14 | 20 |
| Nine | 9 | 14 |
| Ace | 6 | 11 |
| Ten | 5 | 10 |
| King | 3 | 4 |
| Queen | 1 | 3 |
| 8, 7 | 0 | 0 |
Each suit is worth 38 points, so 152 for the deck, plus the 10 for the last trick: 162 per deal, as usual. In every suit the order is the trump order: J, 9, A, 10, K, Q, 8, 7. An ace is only worth 6 and ranks behind the jack and nine: that's the classic trap for anyone arriving with a hand full of aces. More on All Trump points.
Sample hand, step by step
You hold J-10 of hearts, J-9 of spades, J-K of clubs and 9-A of diamonds. Count: three jacks (3 × 14 = 42), two nines (2 × 9 = 18), the ace (6), the ten (5) and the king (3). Total: 74 points in hand.
- Your masters: the jacks of hearts, spades and clubs each win a trick. The 9 of spades becomes master once your jack has been played.
- Your gap: you're missing the jack of diamonds. Your 9 and ace of diamonds can both fall to it.
- The comparison: in spades, this hand would hold only J-9 of trumps, just two trumps, with lots of weak cards on the side. All Trump makes better use of your three jacks.
All Trump is clearly defensible here. With only two jacks and no nine, the same reasoning would lean toward a suit contract or a pass instead.
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FAQ
How much is the jack worth in All Trump?
The jack is worth 14 points in All Trump, in each of the four suits. It's the master card of this contract.
Are two jacks enough to bid All Trump?
They can be if backed by nines and a good shape, but it's not automatic. Compare with the other possible contracts first.
Why is the ace worth so little in All Trump?
Because every suit follows the trump order: the jack and nine rank above the ace. The ace is only worth 6 points and is no longer a sure trick. A hand rich in aces is often better suited to No Trump.