POP QUIZ !
(1) Is it better to go down 2 doubled Vulnerable or let your opponents make a not vulnerable game in Spades
(2) Should you bid 7 Clubs not vulnerable or let opponents make 6 NT Vulnerable, if you can take only 6 tricks at Clubs ?
Click here for the answers.
Rules, Rules, Rules. One rule is not to push opponents into a game they can make -- another is not to double them into game they haven't bid. Most hard decisions occur at the 3 level and at the 4/5 level.
Obviously these rules aren't really rules because you can't follow all of them all the time. But anyone can memorize rules -- the skill and fun of Duplicate is in judgment and visualization of abstract situations and outwitting the opponents -- not your partner !
Numbers Are Your Friends. Competitive Bridge is a game of numbers -- for bidding, for scoring, for defense, for play. Don't be intimidated; there are really only a few important ones. Learn them and make them your weapons.
Answers
Down 2 -- doubled and vulnerable costs you 500 matchpoints. Your opponents can make 420 for a not-vulnerable Spade game. Down one -- great!. Down two -- a bottom board.
6NT making, vulnerable, is 1440. Down 7, not vulnerable and doubled costs you 1700. A close call, but still a bad result for you. You will be doubled, of course. But, if you can hold it to down 6, that's only 1400 - - a winner, if they're going to make their slam.
Click here to see the duplicate Scoring table.
(c) Robert D. McConnell, 1998 All Rights Reserved