The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-08-11
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By VIM. F.. MCKINNEY Secretary American Bridge League In the straight forcing system, slams are arrived at when intel ligent bidding between partners reveals that the combined two hands hold seven or eight quick tricks. Seven to seven and one-half quick tricks in the two hands will generally produce a small slam, while eight to eight and one-half quick tricks will generally produce a grand slam.
 The beginner at contract should remember, however, that there are many pitfalls on the road to sue cegsful slam-such as distribution, duplication of values and so forth. An almost certain small slam should not be jeopardized for doubtful grand slam, and 1t IS bet ter to miss the few slams that come m in an evening than to sacriflce the many game bonuses. Again let us warn you that there are thou sands of points more lost in each year in unsuccessful slams than are won with slams that are bid and successfully made.
 Sacrifice Bidding
 Sacrifice bidding plays an inn portant part in the game of con- tract. You should familiarise your seIf with contract scoring so that vou can readily sum up the possi- hIe number of points a pair. VIII make if their contract Is success fuI and by contract bidding, you may be able to take a WorthWhlie sacrifice.
 Very often you are called upon to choose whether to double the bid of an opponent or to bid Tor game yourself. Under the present contract scoring, the various scores are roughly valued as follows:
 A partial score of 40 points or more. due to the advantageous position it gives you, IS worth about 200 points. - |.
 The first game Cor nrst les) ID worth about 400 points.
 The rubber game Cor second leg) is worth about 500 points
 A successful small slam, if not vulnerable, Is worth about l'ooo points. ,n
 Contract rubbers average to run between 300 and 1000 points.
 If does not generally pay to take over a 600-point penalty at any time.
 The proportion of contract SCOT, ing to auction is about two ana one-half to one, although contract rubbers generally average to last longer period of time, which might reduce this figure to two 10 one. When a side Is vulnerable ana thev make a game-going declara- ton which you double. the swing can easily average to be worth two average rubber games; therefore, don't double doubtful contracts, especially when it will give them game. Partners will soon learn that through sound bidding they can accurately determine the number of high card tricks in their hand, and there ise not much guess work in penalty doubles.
 Analysing the straight forcing system, we find that:
 -Four card suit bidding piays an important part.
 2-Original bids must show de- fensive quick tricks.
 3-Quick trick showing plays the most important part.
 4-Forcing bids must be kept open until game is arrived at.
 5-Original two forcing bids should not be made unless pre- pared to go to game even though partner has trickless hand.
 6-When partner makes an orig inal bid and you have sufficient quick tricks to produce game. you should make a jump shift bid which is a forcing bid.
 7--No trump bids, until re-bid, ere generally denial bids.
 (Copyright, 1891, NEA Service
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