Lesson 1(c). Scoring

How to Score the Results of a Hand

You make a plus score in two ways - for making your contract, or for defeating theirs.  And, at duplicate bridge, you receive a corresponding minus score when they succeed in their contract or defeat yours.

For scoring at Rubber Bridge, use this link. Further mentions of the score in this blog will use Duplicate scoring.

Let's look at making yours first.  If you make your contract, you always receive some credit for tricks that you make after the first six.

Tricks in a minor suit contract score 20 points each, in a major suit contract 30 points each, in notrumps the same as in a major, plus a once-only bonus of ten.

If you succeed in a partscore contract, you receive a bonus of 50.

Thus if you make 8 tricks in your 2♦ contract, you score 2x20 + 50 = 90.  If you make 9 tricks in a 2♥ contract, you score 3x30 + 50 = 140.  If you make 10 tricks in your 1NT contract, you score 4x30 + 10 + 50 = 180.

However, the way to really boost your score is to bid high enough to earn a game bonus, or slam bonus.

A game bonus is worth an extra 300 points if your side is not vulnerable (indicated on the board by the colour green behind the names of your compass directions).  It is worth  an extra 500 if your side is vulnerable (indicated by the colour red on the board).

Thus if you make 10 tricks in your non-vulnerable 3NT contract, you score 4x30 + 10 + 300 = 430. 

And if you are bold enough to bid and make a small slam, you receive as well as a game bonus an extra small slam bonus of 500 not vulnerable and 750 vulnerable.

For grand slam the additional bonus is 1000 not vulnerable and 1500 vulnerable. 

To make 12 tricks in a vulnerable 6♠ contract scores 6x30 + 500 + 750 = 1430.

Thus bidding to the game level or the slam level brings considerable rewards for success.

If you defeat the opponents, you receive 50 for every undertrick when they are not vulnerable and 100 when they are vulnerable, regardless of the contract. 

If you double the opponents and defeat them, you score even more.  Not vulnerable down one doubled gives you 100, down two 300, down three 500….  Vulnerable, the same results give you 200, 500 & 800.  Of course, if they make their doubled contract, they score extra points for your insolence!  You might like to buy your own scorer to refer to in less common situations.

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The story continues in the next post - Number 1(d).  I welcome any comments you may have. You can do this via the "Post a Comment" feature at the bottom of each post, or the Contact Form in the right sidebar.

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