Bidding Game at Teams

Bid games at teams especially when vulnerable.

This is best tactics because of the IMP scoring. Playing in a vulnerable game that goes off could lose 6 imps if they stay in a part score at the other table, but could gain 10 if it makes.

So it is worth bidding game if you judge the odds of it making are round about 2 to 1 against. In addition, most players play the hand better than they defend. Defenders may not make the best technical lead, and even if they do, it may not beat your contract.

Losing Trick Count (LTC) – see separate handout

Other factors to consider when judging whether or not to bid game in a major suit

Good points include:

having a 6 card trump suit
having any side suit of 4 or more cards
quality of points (aces and kings are worth more than 4/3 points, queens and jacks are worth less than 2/1 points)
location of points (K876 and 54 is much better than K8 and 8754)
quality of intermediate cards (having 10s and 9s may make all the difference)

BUT – don’t over-rate solid trumps: AKQJ4 is not as good as AQJ54 and a king elsewhere

TRIAL BIDS

These are used to help decide if game is a decent option. Over 1H/S – 2H/S, a bid of another suit shows at least two losers in that suit and asks for help in that suit. It does not show (e.g) AKJ5, or A6 – it would show something like K743, or Q1054, or even 875.

Responder should bid game if they have one or no loser in the suit, even if minimum. They should sign off with 3 losers in the suit. With two losers, they should bid game if maximum and sign off if minimum.

After 1C/D – 2C/D, bids in other suits are now showing stoppers looking for 3NT (remember responder will not have a 4 card major on this auction). Responder should bid NT with stoppers in the other suits, or bid the suit with a stopper with only one suit held.

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Bid games at teams especially when vulnerable.
This is best tactics because of the IMP scoring. Playing in a vulnerable game that goes off could lose 6 imps if they stay in a part score at the other table, but could gain 10 if it makes.
So it is worth bidding game if you judge the odds of it making are round about 2 to 1 against. In addition, most players play the hand better than they defend. Defenders may not make the best technical lead, and even if they do, it may not beat your contract.
Losing Trick Count (LTC) – see separate handout
Other factors to consider when judging whether or not to bid game in a major suit
Good points include:
<ul>
<li>having a 6 card trump suit</li>
<li>having any side suit of 4 or more cards</li>
<li>quality of points (aces and kings are worth more than 4/3 points, queens and jacks are worth less than 2/1 points)</li>
<li>location of points (K876 and 54 is much better than K8 and 8754)</li>
<li>quality of intermediate cards (having 10s and 9s may make all the difference)</li>
</ul>
BUT – don’t over-rate solid trumps: AKQJ4 is not as good as AQJ54 and a king elsewhere
<h2>TRIAL BIDS</h2>
These are used to help decide if game is a decent option. Over 1H/S – 2H/S, a bid of another suit shows at least two losers in that suit and asks for help in that suit. It does not show (e.g) AKJ5, or A6 – it would show something like K743, or Q1054, or even 875.
Responder should bid game if they have one or no loser in the suit, even if minimum. They should sign off with 3 losers in the suit. With two losers, they should bid game if maximum and sign off if minimum.
After 1C/D – 2C/D, bids in other suits are now showing stoppers looking for 3NT (remember responder will not have a 4 card major on this auction). Responder should bid NT with stoppers in the other suits, or bid the suit with a stopper with only one suit held.

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