Scoring Context
| Our Score If We Are Doubled and Defeated | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| When We are Not Vulnerable |
When We are Vulnerable |
||
| Undertricks | Score | Undertricks | Score |
| 1 | -100 | 1 | -200 |
| 2 | -300 | 2 | -500 |
| 3 | -500 | 3 | -800 |
| 4 | -800 | 4 | -1100 |
| Our Score If They Make Game | |
|---|---|
| When They are Not Vulnerable |
When They are Vulnerable |
| -400 in NT or -420 in a suit |
-600 in NT or -620 in a suit |
The tables at right help to illustrate the limits of the scoring advantage to be gained in duplicate bridge by preempting or sacrificing when the opponents may be successful in making a game contract. The level to which one may preempt, bid competitively or ultimately sacrifice is heavily influenced by the vulnerability status of each side and the assumption that the defending side will double the contract. There are four possible scenarios:
- Neither side is Vulnerable (Equal Vulnerability): The opponents are likely to score 400 or 420 points at game and a sacrifice bid which is defeated by no more that two tricks will lose at most 300 points.
- We are Not Vulnerable and They are (Favorable Vulnerability): The opponents are likely to score 600 or 620 points at game and a sacrifice bid which is defeated by no more than three tricks will lose at most 500 points.
- We are Vulnerable and They are not (Unfavorable Vulnerability): The opponents are likely to score 400 or 420 points at game and a sacrifice bid which is defeated by no more that one trick will lose at most 200 points.
- Both sides are Vulnerable (Equal Vulnerability): The opponents are likely to score 600 or 620 points at game and a sacrifice bid which is defeated by no more that two tricks will lose at most 500 points.
In summary, based upon the expectation that the opponents are likely to bid and make game, it is advantageous to preempt, compete or sacrifice for down three when vulnerability is favorable, down two when equal and down one when unfavorable.
Read more about this topic: Preempt
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