Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-25
BRIDGE TALKS
By MRS. JOHN MUNCE. Jr.

In the playing Of contract bridge it
is necessary to understand the score
values, and for this purpose we Will
take UP contract scoring.
In place of the auction values Of 8
for clubs, for diamonds, 8 for hearts
and for spades, as well as the 10 for
no trumps, the contract values are 20
for each trick for clubs and diamonds,
although the diamonds outrank the
clubs in the. bidding. BY this 20 Is
meant 20 for each trick over the book
Of six tricks. Hearts and spades each
count 80, although the spades outrank
trumps, we count 35. AS before, no
trump bid outranks all other bids.
The old ratio Of odd tricks for game
remains the same, as contract game Is
100 points instead of the auction game
of 80 points. It takes just as many odd
tricks at q minor suit to go game In
contract as it did in auction, five. The
same applies to the major suits, four
tricks, and three for the no-trump bids.
1t is really just case Of dealing with
higher figures and in playing contract
you expect to win or lose by larger
margins, as the average rubber in con-
tract will be fully 900 points. One very
important thing to remember Is this:
You can only score in your game score
the number of tricks that you have bid,
regardless Of how many you make.
However, the extra tricks are scored in
the honor score, SO for each trick If
not vulnerable, or If undoubled when
you are vulnerable.
Vulnerability confuses many contract
beginners, because it is entirely differ
ent from anything we have had before
In bridge games. 1t simply means that
when the side has a game it Is vulner-
able, and should both sides be game
in, then both sides are vulnerable. 1t
is important to watch the score. Never
make bid until you have looked at the
score. Unless you make game bid you
cannot score for game, although you
may make the necessary number OF
tricks. The same thing applies to grand
slams and small slams. Unless they
are bid you cannot score them.
Another distinct novelty introduced
by contract Is the premium for making
rubberS. Instead Of the auction bonus
of $50 for all rubbers, in contract the
bonus Is 500 for winning two games
out of three. But should a side get
two games in succession, 50 that the
other side has none, then the premium
for this is TOO. This does not mean
that the rubber must be won In Two
deals, as some players seem to think,
but simply that II the first two games
are won by a side, they score TOO in
stead of 500 for the two-out-of-three
games.
There is q decided difference in the
method Of counting and scoring for
revoke. The penalty is two tricks for
the first revoke, but 100 points instead
Of additional tricks when a subsequent
revoke is made in the same deal by
the same player.
When it comes to counting honors,
there is very little to worry about, and
little to remember, as nothing less than
four honors in one hand figures in
the honor score, and nothing less than
100 is scored for honors. Four honors
in one hand count 100 for the holder,
five in one hand count $50, and at
no-trump declaration four aces In one
hand count $50. The honor value of
the hand is due some consideration, but
not when compared with the trick
taking ability; possible honor score
has weight, only the scales are other
wise balanced between two sound decla-
rations.
To the beginner in contract scoring
the doubled bid often seems difficult,
and 1t is wise to have before you q
contract score, at least until you learn
how to score accurately. There IS a
bonus for making a doubled contract,
so points II you are doubled and not
vulnerable; but If you are vulnerable
and doubled, you get bonus Of 100
points.
In scoring your extra tricks, If dou-
bled and you are not vulnerable, you
score 100 points for each extra trick.
Should you be vulnerable and be fortu-
nate enough to be doubled, when you
are able to make extra tricks, then
you score 200 for each extra trick In
your honor score.