IN duplicate bridge, a sacrifice is a deliberate bid of a contract that is unlikely to make in the hope that the penalty points will be less than the points likely to be gained by the opponents in making their contract.
East, your left hand opponent (LHO) bids 1H. Your partner makes a weak overcall of 3C and thereafter West, your right hand opponent (RHO) bids game – 4H. You are holding a good fit with your partner (three of his clubs) and have nine points. You have two options -your bid 5C (a sacrifice) or pass.
Clearly your opponents know you will not make 5C so they are very likely to double your contract.
What can assist you to make that decision?
The vulnerability of the board is the key issue. There are four possible scenarios – (one) neither side vulnerable, (two) both sides are, (three) you are vulnerable and they are not, and finally they are vulnerable and you are not.
Let’s take each situation and look at possible outcomes where your opponents make 4H and you overcall 5C, you are doubled and go two or three tricks off.
1 No Vul – 4H = -420 points. 5Dx 2 off = -300 pts 5Dx 3 off = -500 pts
2 Both Vul 4H = -620 pts 5Dx 2 off = -500 pts 5Dx 3 off = -800pts
3 You Vul 4H = -420 pts 5Dx 2 off = -500 pts 5Dx 3 off = -800 pts
4 They vul 4H = -620 pts 5Dx 2 off = -300 pts 5Dx 3 off = -500 pts.
If you go just two off, three out four times you get a better result. But, you are more likely to go three off. So, in this case just one scenario gives you a better score, the favourable vulnerability where you are not and they are.
So the key is to up your bidding when the vulnerability is favourable, it could be acceptable when the vulnerability is equal. But, never when unfavourable, here you pass.
You also need a good fit with your partner – the key here is you need 10 trumps – not the usual eight – between you. The above hand had this requirement. We’ll speak more next week on hand shape and defensive values.
Amanzimtoti Duplicate Bridge club results for this week:
Tuesday, 30 October, no results due to hall maintenance.
Wednesday, 31 October: First Eric and Diane Smith 60.00%, second Keith Lowe and Faye Dell 59.17%.
The club welcomes visitors who can call Diane or Eric on 031-903-2684, 072-035-3586 or 083-234-6877. Sessions take place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 12.45pm.
