But when in doubt, settle for the sure thing. It's important to get plus scores at matchpoints. If you aren't sure of your fit or partner's strength, don't push too hard. If the opponents have outbid you, consider taking a sure penalty instead of bidding higher to a contract you might not make.
Choose the highest-scoring game. For game contracts, you should be most eager to play 4H or 4S, willing to play 3NT and reluctant to play 5C or 5D. If you have game values and fit in clubs or diamonds, consider playing 3NT instead.
Choose the safest partscore. When you have minimum high-card strength, choose the safety of a trump suit. A major-suit is still best, but if you're deciding between a notrump and a minor-suit partscore, play the suit contract if you have a fit.
Overcall freely. At the one-level, don't be afraid to make light, lead-directing overcalls (as few as 8 or 9 points if you have a good suit), especially if you're not vulnerable and your opponent opens a minor. If you have to go to the two-level to bid your suit, though, be cautious. For a two-level overcall, you should have good high-card strength (11-12+ points) and a very good suit (a strong 5-carder or, better, a 6+-card suit). A vulnerable two-level overcall should be even stronger.
Raise partner's suit freely. Even if you're light in high-card points, stretch to raise partner if you have a fit for his suit, especially in competitive auctions.
Sacrifice more often. If you have a good fit, sacrifice freely if your opponents are vulnerable and you are not. But be very conservative about sacrificing when you're vulnerable.
Don't "sell out" too low. If the opponents stop at a low
level, you don't have to have a strong hand to balance back into the auction.
The best situations for competing are when:
(1) You're not vulnerable;
(2) The opponents have stopped in 1 or 2 of a suit contract
(not 1NT or 2NT); and
(3) You hold shortness in the opponents' trump suit.
Double more partscores. If you bid to a partscore you think you could have made, but your opponents bid over it, a double is sometimes necessary for you to get even an average score. (Be very careful in choosing when to use this tip!)
Use a simplified form of the "Law of Total Tricks (Trumps)" for competitive decisions. In partscore situations -- those where you've found a fit but wanted to stop below game -- don't let the opponents push you to the three-level unless you have at least a 9-card trump fit.
Look for overtricks. Unlike in rubber bridge, it's sometimes right to make a fairly risky play trying for the overtrick -- especially when you're in a "normal" contract that you think will be bid by other pairs.
Play it safe if you're in an unusual contract. Go for the sure plus score if you're playing or defending a contract that you think probably won't be bid at most tables.
Consider using 15-17 points as the range for your opening 1NT bids. A 1NT opening often gives you a bidding advantage because your responses are so well defined and your opponents will find it more difficult to enter your auction. Most duplicate players use the 15-17 range (instead of 16-18) because it allows them to open more hands with 1NT. If you use this range, responder will need to adjust his point requirements up by 1 point. You should also change your 2NT opening range to 20-21 or 20-22 points.
2. Negative doubles (used by responder over an intervening overcall)
4. Michaels Cuebids & Unusual 2NT (two-suited overcalls)
5. Jacoby transfers (responses to an opening 1NT)
Copyright © Karen Walker