Pairs Events Strategy

The Trick's the Game. In pairs Events, and all Duplicate scored at Matchpoints, every trick is vital, and each board will be played several times, up to 12 or so. This means that the board will be played by many players and teams, and will get several scores close to it's maximum many times.

Therefore, for you to win at matchpoints, you must be very aggressive about pushing your opponents to the maximum, and about understanding perfectly the difference between possible alternate outcomes while the bidding is going on.

Defense Wins. You must defend very well, as a single trick -- even an insignificant overtrick -- means the difference between winning and losing. You aren't necessarily trying to beat the declarer at all times -- your competition is the other pairs playing your way, after all. You must get all the tricks that are 'coming to you', and you must sacrifice when that produces a better result -- every time.

Tops - Yes; Bottoms - No!. You must play to avoid 'Bottoms', and to maximize 'Tops'. A few Tops along with many Averages will produce a winner for your pair. But, a few Bottoms will cook you chances for a winning round, so be careful about taking a flyer -- steady, dependable bridge is the watchword for good pairs players.

Concentration. Never lose you concentration for a second -- it's fatal. That's why Duplicate sessions are so quiet -- it's the most intensive concentration you can imagine for a totally intellectual, abstract activity.