Better Bridge in Barry County June 18 2015

Better Bridge in Barry County

By Gerald Stein

 

 

	North ♠  ---      ♥  ---  ♦  A K Q J 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2  ♣  ---
West ♠  ---    ♥  ---  ♦  ---  ♣  A K Q J 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2		East ♠  ---  ♥  A K Q J 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2  ♦  ---  ♣  ---
	South ♠  A K Q J 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2  ♥  ---  ♦  ---  ♣  ---

 

 

Dealer: Vulnerable: Lead:

West Both A♣

 

North   7♦! Pass	East   7♥! Pass	South   7♠!	West 7♣! Pass

Scoring the Rubber Bridge Contract: Part 2

 

What bridge player would not want to have a hand like this? But because of the idiosyncrasies of bridge, it is South with the spade suit that will be the lucky winner of the contract and play it at 7♠, bidding and making. But bridge is made of three parts: Bidding, Playing/Defending, and Scoring. In this second of a two-part series, let’s examine how scoring in bridge is often overlooked and not easily understood, not only by beginning players but by players who have played many years. They sometimes allow others to keep score and seem to be missing out on an important part of the game. Part one of this series focused on Rubber Bridge scoring for games and part scores. Part Two will focus on slam scoring, doubles and redoubles.  

While Rubber Bridge is the technical name for the kind of bridge that most players enjoy either at homes of friends or relatives, it often has other names as well. Often called Social bridge, Kitchen bridge,  Contract Bridge, or other names, Rubber Bridge is the form of bridge that is easily picked up anywhere with as little as one table of four players. Scoring Rubber Bridge at the slam level is the purpose of this column.

Some basic reminders are in order for those who are new to the game of bridge and want to know about the scoring aspects. While we do use all 52 cards in the deck, we know that they are divided into four equal hands of 13 cards each. Each player receives her 13 cards and sorts them into the suits. In today’s hand, imagine the surprise and the laughter when the Bridge instructor arranged this artificial hand. Each one thought that they would be the winning hand, but because our four suits are ranked in order, it is the lowly clubs that bids first, then the diamonds, and then the hearts, and the ultimate winner is the spade suit. Of course, an easy way to remember the ranking of the suits is by their alphabetical order: C, D, H, and S.

While there are thirteen tricks to be taken in each hand of bridge, we know that the first six are a basic requirement. Called Book, before we can make a bid, we know and understand that we must take the first six tricks and then our numerical bid. Thus, the highest bid that we can make to take all 13 tricks is not 13, but Book plus 7 which equal the 13 tricks bid and won. In today’s hand, no matter what the lead from West, and no matter how impressive dummy’s diamonds are, they will never be used. South will trump the opening A♣ lead and play one spade after another claiming all 13 tricks and making a grand slam in bridge.

The bidding and the playing and defending are over. Now for the scoring of today’s hand. Wherever do we start? Rubber Bridge and other forms of bridge basically use the same format for scoring tricks bid and made. The major suits of hearts and spades, the minor suits of diamonds and clubs, and the no trump hands all are assigned points to be used in reaching the score of 100 for a game. Tricks above our Book of Six bid and made for the majors of hearts and spades are worth 30 points each. We therefore need Book plus four more tricks to reach 100 or over. Tricks above our Book of Six bid and made for the minors of clubs and diamonds are worth 20 points each. We therefore need Book plus five more tricks to reach 100. In No Trump, the points are set as follows: the first trick above our Book of Six bid and made in No Trump is worth 40 points. The second, third and so on are each worth 30 points. So a 3NT contract of Book plus 3 tricks bid and made will score 100 points and make game.

In Rubber Bridge, a rubber is completed when one team has won two games. If the opponents have won one game, and your team has won one game, then it goes to the best of three. The winner of the two games is generally the winner of the rubber as extra points are added to the score card for winning in the form of bonuses. If your side wins a two-game rubber, your side adds 700 bonus points to your side of the ledger. If it is a three-game rubber, then the winner of the two games will receive a 500 point bonus.

Finally, scoring a small slam, or in today’s case, scoring a grand slam for the North/South team, there are additional bonus points to add to your side of the scorecard. If you are vulnerable which means your side has won one game towards rubber, then you can expect to receive an additional 1500 points on your side if you bid and make the grand slam. If you make a small slam, then you can expect to receive 750 points. If you are not vulnerable and make a small slam, you will receive 500 points and if you are non vulnerable and make a grand slam, you will receive 1000 points.

So, to score today’s hand and see how many points they have earned, let’s do the math. We know that both sides are vulnerable, so expect the most points possible on this hand. South bid and made, which is always the key element, bid and made, and took 7 tricks above the Book of Six. Seven times 30 points for each spade trick equals 210 points. Since both sides are vulnerable, we know that both sides have won one game each of the three-set rubber. So for making two out of three games, North South will receive a bonus of 500 points. Now we are up to 710 points. For the grand slam bonus, bid and made, vulnerable to boot, North/South will receive 1500 additional points.

In addition, in Rubber Bridge, honor points are counted if they are claimed! For having all of the top five trump honors, claim an extra 150 points. Today’s South remembered to claim the honors, and she added the 150 to all of the bonus points. The grand total for North South as they complete this hand: 2360 plus whatever they earned on the previous game bid and won. East/West will also add up their paltry points, but they will be nowhere near to compete with North/South.

Double and redouble are also important parts of the bridge scoring. Easily understood, a business double or a penalty double from the defenders announces that they think you will not make your contract. If they, in fact, do set your contract, expect to pay twice the penalty as you would have. If you feel confident that they are wrong, you may redouble and then the penalties and/or rewards are figured at four times the normal result. Other uses have been developed by bridge gurus who use them with some unusual meanings since penalty doubles are not common. Redoubles are even less common.

Now if you are playing for money, and you are East and West, you might think that a penny a point might be a bit steep. Fortunately most bridge players play for fun and not for money. Learn the scoring and keep an eye on the scorecard if you have always allowed others to score for you. You will improve your game and keep your partner happy.

 

Gerald Stein

Number of words: 1387

June 12, 2015

Better Bridge in Barry County May 28 2015 Part Two

Bids
		Rubber Bridge Scoring
	We			They			Vulnerable:  Won 1 game
							Not Vulnerable: No games won.
							Penalties for not making bid.
							Not Vul	50pts/trick
							Vulnerable 100pts/Trick
							Overtricks are scored above line.
							Extra tricks made above bid.
							Honors: A,K,Q,J,10
							4 Honors in Trump: 100 pts
							5 Honors in Trump 150 pts
							Honors in NT: 4 Aces 150 pts
							A Rubber is 2 out of 3 games.
							Rubber: 2 successive games=700
							2 games to 1 game=500
					The Line!
							Scoring
							Book	First 6 tricks
							C and D	20 pts/trick
							H and S	30 pts/trick
							NT	40 pts 1st trick; then 30pts/trick
							Game	Tricks Needed
							C and D	11	6+5	100
							H and S	10	6+4	120
							NT	9	6+3	100
							Bid and Made
							1C or D	20
							1 H or S		30
							1NT			40
							2 C or D	40
							2 H or S		60
							2NT			70
							3 C or D	60
							3 H or S		90
							3 NT	Game		100
							4 C or D	80
Total Points			Total Points				4 H or S	Game	120
							5 C or D Game:       100

Better Bridge in Barry County May 28 2015

Learning How to Score Rubber/Contract Bridge

By Gerald Stein

 

In today’s column, we will examine the third part of playing bridge: the scoring aspect. Too often some Contract/Rubber bridge players allow someone else to score the points for them. They are oblivious to the ways that bridge scoring is done. In all types of bridge playing, there are three parts: the bidding, the playing and defending the hand, and the scoring of the hand. In a two-part series, we will see how important it is to know all three parts of playing successful bridge. Knowing how to score is an important goal for every bridge player.

The object of bridge is to bid each hand and work together with your partner to gain 100 points or more to win a game. To earn those game points, certain values are assigned to the four suits and to no trump. Making a “game” results when your team has successfully earned 100 points or more by bidding, playing, and making the contract. The scoring will happen last after each hand.

In the convenient chart above, it is important to know certain terms that are used every time you are playing bridge. A “Vulnerable” status indicates that your team has won one game. Your team will be held to higher penalties as well as higher rewards because your side has won one game. A “Not Vulnerable” status indicates that your team has not yet won a game, and so the penalties and rewards are significantly lower. Getting set one trick when you are vulnerable will cost your team 100 points. Getting set one trick when you are not vulnerable will cost you 50 points.  Whether you are playing for pennies or M and M’s, it could make a difference!

Bridge is unique in that the first six tricks are called “the book.” Each time a player bids, the understanding is that the first six tricks are automatically included in the bid. Thus, a bid of 1C means that you are planning to take seven tricks: the “book” of six plus one, the bid that you have just made. You are communicating with your partner that you are interested in the club suit, and that you can make seven out of the 13 total tricks in each hand.

Tricks bid and won are counted as follows: the minor suits of clubs and diamonds are worth 20 points each. To reach a game of 100 or more, the goal for winning bridge games, in clubs or diamonds,  it will take you 11 tricks out of the 13 tricks possible for each hand, (“6 for book” and 5 tricks at 20 points each), a daunting task. Those points go below the line and are known as game points.

To reach a game of 100 or more in the major suits of hearts and spades, you need only four tricks plus “book of six” since major suits are worth 30 points each. (4 tricks at 30 points equals 120 points.) Those points also go below the line. Only ten tricks are needed for a game in a major instead of the more difficult 11 in clubs and diamonds, the minor suits.

To reach a game of 100 or more in no trump, you need only three tricks plus “book of six” since the first trick of no trump is worth 40 points. Each subsequent trick in no trump is worth 30 points. So 40 + 30 + 30 = 100. You can quickly see that experienced bridge players try for games in 3NT and 4♥ and 4♠ because of the lower number of tricks needed for game. Nine tricks in no trump is often easier than 11 tricks in clubs or diamonds.

Part scores happen often in Contract/Rubber Bridge, so learning to score and watching the scorecard is important. Part score hands may be played, scored and added until one side reaches the 100 or more points, the goal for each game. Bidding too high when your side has a part score on your side of the ledger and then going set is an aggravation to your partner. Learn to watch the score.

Contract/Rubber Bridge is based on winning the best of three games. Called a rubber, the team that wins the first two games is awarded bonus points for doing so. If your team wins the first two games without giving up a game to your opponents, happily take 700 bonus points above the line in addition to your game points below the line. If each team has won a game (vulnerable both), and your team wins the third game, then happily take a 500 point bonus. The rubber is over as soon as two games are won by either pair.

In addition, other bonus points include honors if you remember to claim them. Having 4 of the 5 top cards in a trump suit will give you a 100 bonus points above the line. Having 5 of the top 5 cards (A K Q J 10) will give you 150 bonus points. Having all four aces in one hand will also give you 150 bonus points if you are the declarer in no trump. Remember to claim them or you lose them.

Overtricks are tricks won above the contract; they are put above the line. Only tricks bid and made are counted towards the 100 point game goal. The extra tricks, counted as their given value, are put above the line and are counted as bonus points. Undertricks are tricks where the contract was not made. Those points go to your opponents for setting you. Those points also go above the line.

Finally, at the end of a rubber, the final steps are to count up the total points from the top part where the bonus points are stored as well as the game points. The team having the highest total number of points is declared the winner of the rubber.

Learning to score can be mastered with a little practice. Make sure you and your partner both know how to score and then teach someone how to score if they do not know how. This will make everyone a better bridge player!

 

Gerald Stein

May 20, 2015

Number of words: 1088

 

Bridge notes: Next time, Part Two of Scoring will look at scoring small slams, grand slams, and doubled and redoubled contracts. Until then, practice scoring on games and part scores, and see how much better you will be as a bridge player.