Sacrifice Bids and Matchpoint Strategy

How The Scores Are Calculated

Duplicate bridge means that the same hands are played at multiple tables. At the end of a session, we can then compare the scores of each pair who held the same cards.

Let's imagine that this is the score sheet for hand 1.

You can see the hand has been played at 5 different tables and, even though it's the same hand, there were a few different results.

Before we go any further, have a look at line 3 where NS pair 3 have played against EW pair 8. South was declarer in 4♠ going down by 1 so East and West score 50 points. As far as North and South go, any score going to East and West is a minus score for North and South. 50 to East and West is the same as -50 for North and South.

Likewise, on hand 4 East played in 3♥ making 3 for a score of 140 to East and West. That also means -140 for North and South. It's the same thing!

At table 1, North and South were in 2♠ making 2 for a score of 110 points. North and South score two 'match points' for each other North South pair they beat. You can see that 110 beats 3 other scores for a total of 6 match points.

At table 2, North and South scored 400 points beating the other four tables and therefore scoring 8 matchpoints.

At table 3, North and South were -50. That's better than -140 so NS pair 3 win 2 matchpoints for beating NS 4.

You score 1 matchpoint for each pair you tie with. North South pair 3 tied with pair 5 with -50 each. It doesn't matter that the contracts were different. So NS 3 wins a total of 3 matchpoints.

As far as North and South are concerned, a score of 140 to Eaat and West is -140 and therefore the worst score on this hand, beating nobody. That means 0 matchpoints for NS pair 4.

On the following hand, with everybody vulnerable, East and West can make 11 tricks in their contract of 4HH for a score of 650 to East West.

As you now know, 620 to East and West is the same as -650 for North and South. But there was one North South pair, pair 5, who played in 4Sx, down 2, losing 500 points.

Here's the score sheet.

Here are the matchpoints for the hand.

-500 is better than -650 so pair 5 actually did better than the other 4 North South pairs and score 4 x 2 = 8 matchpoints!

The matchpoints for each hand can also be converted to a percentage. With 5 tables playing, the most matchpoints any pair can win is 8. 8 out of 8 is 100% and that's what pair 5 scored on this hand.

The matchpoints for every hand in a session are added up to give you a total score for the whole session.