Bridge Scoring - Recent Scoring Changes

Recent Scoring Changes

As of 1987, World Bridge Federation imposed the following scoring changes for duplicate bridge, and as of 1993 also for rubber bridge (however, since there are no official competitions, rubber bridge players accept them as they see fit):

• The undertrick penalty when doubled, not vulnerable, used to be 100 for the first undertrick and 200 for each subsequent. This was changed because it was too easy to sacrifice against a grand slam. A vulnerable grand slam is worth 1500 (slam bonus) + 500 (game bonus) + 210 (major suit trick score) = 2210. Down 11, doubled not vulnerable, used to be 2100, a profitable sacrifice. Under the current scoring rules, down eight (-2000) would still show a profit, but down nine (-2300) would not.

Since a vulnerable small slam bid and made is worth between 1370 (6 of a minor) and 1440 (6 no trump), this change also means that for a non-vulnerable sacrifice, a result of down five (-1100) would show a profit, down six (-1400) might be a small loss or a small gain, and down seven (-1700) would be a loss. Under the old scoring rules, down seven (-1300) would have been a gain, down eight (-1500) would have been a loss.

• Also, the "insult bonus" for making a redoubled contract used to be only 50. This was changed to 100, so that playing 5 of a minor, redoubled, making an overtrick, is always worth more than an undoubled small slam.