How to Score at Rubber Bridge
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HOW TO SCORE AT RUBBER BRIDGE A Rubber consists of the best of three games. The first pair to score 100 points “under the line” over one or more hands wins the first game and a new game is started. The first pair to win two games wins the rubber. POINTS SCORED “UNDER THE LINE” Points are scored under the line for each trick bid and made, as follows: Suit Undoubled Doubled Re-doubled No Trumps - 1st trick 40 80 160 No Trumps - Subsequent tricks 30 60 120 Major Suits (Spades & Hearts) 30 60 120 Minor Suits (Clubs & Diamonds) 20 40 80 For example: 2 HEARTS bid & made scores 2 x 30 = 60 points 2 HEARTS doubled & made scores 2 x 60 = 120 points 3NT bid & made scores 40 + (2 x 30) = 100 points POINTS "ABOVE THE LINE" Bonus points are scored above the line in a number of ways and vary depending on whether the pair have already won a game (Vulnerable) or have not won a game (Not Vulnerable). 1. Over tricks For each trick made over and above the contract: Contract Not Vulnerable Vulnerable Un-doubled in No Trumps 30 30 Un-doubled in Major Suit 30 30 Un-doubled in Minor Suit 20 20 Any doubled suit/NT 100 200 Any Re-doubled suit/NT 200 400 2. Slam bonuses Bonuses are awarded for all slam contracts bid and made: A Small slam (12 tricks bid and made) earns a bonus of 500 points if not vulnerable and 750 points if vulnerable. A Grand slam (13 tricks bid and made) earns a bonus of 1000 points if not vulnerable and 1500 points if vulnerable. 3. Doubled or Re-doubled bonus When a doubled or re-doubled contract is made, a bonus is awarded to the declaring side. It is colloquially referred to as a bonus for "insult", meaning that the opponents have insulted the pair by suggesting that the declarer will not make the contract. 50 points are awarded for a doubled contract made, and 100 points are awarded for a re-doubled contract made. 4. Defeated Contracts When a contract is defeated, penalty points are awarded to the defending side. The value of the penalty depends on the number of under-tricks, whether the declaring side is vulnerable or not vulnerable and whether the contract was un-doubled, doubled or re-doubled. 50 points are awarded for each un-doubled under-trick (not vulnerable) 100 points are awarded for each un-doubled under-trick (vulnerable) For doubled contracts: Number of under-tricks Not Vulnerable Vulnerable 1st under-trick 100 200 2nd & 3rd 200 300 4th & subsequent 300 300 For re-doubled contracts: Number of under-tricks Not Vulnerable Vulnerable 1st under-trick 200 400 2nd & 3rd 400 600 4th & subsequent 600 600 5. Honours bonus A bonus is awarded for any one hand holding four or five of the honours, i.e. an ace, king, queen, jack or ten. 100 points are awarded for any one hand holding any four of the five trump suit honours, and 150 points are awarded for any one hand holding all five trump suit honours, or all four aces in a No trump contract. Honours may be declared and scored at any time after the auction but for strategic reasons it is best to do so at the conclusion of play so as not to give the opponents information about the lay of the cards. 6. Rubber Bonus A bonus is awarded at the conclusion of the rubber as follows: For a completed rubber in two games, a rubber bonus of 700 points. For a completed rubber in three games, a rubber bonus of 500 points. In unfinished rubbers, if one side has won a game it scores 300 points, and if one side has a part-score it scores 50 points. At the end of the rubber all the points above and below the line are added up. The total points of the losing pair are subtracted from the total points of the winning pair to determine the winning margin. When playing for money the amount won will typically be a set amount per 100 points, e.g. when playing for “10p per 100 points”, a winning margin of 850 points would win 85 pence. Example Score Sheet The photo below shows how a score card is filled in for a typical rubber, followed by an explanation of the points scored for each deal. Deal 1: South bids 2NT making 3. Only the contract points (70) are scored below the line; the overtrick points (30) are scored above the line. Deal 2: West bids and makes 4♥. This scores 120 contract points below the line; since there are no overtricks, no points are scored above the line. The accumulation of 100 or more points below the line constitutes the end of the first game and is signified by the drawing of a horizontal line. The part score of 70 by North-South is no longer available for accumulation towards a game by them and are said to be "cut off" as signified by the drawing of the horizontal line. Having won a game, East-West are vulnerable for all subsequent deals of the rubber meaning that they are now eligible for a larger rubber bonus if they win a second game before their opponents win one and they are susceptible to increased penalties if they are defeated in a contract. Deal 3: West bids 5♣ and goes down 2, vulnerable, un-doubled. This scores 200 penalty points for North- South above the line. Deal 4: South bids 4♠ doubled, not vulnerable and makes 5. North-South score 240 contract tricks below the line, 100 over-trick points above the line and 50 points for 'insult' above the line. Accumulating 100 or more points below the line constitutes the end of the second game, signified by the drawing of a horizontal line. Having won a game, North-South are now also vulnerable for all subsequent deals of the rubber. Deal 5: North bids 3♣ and makes 4 scoring 60 contract points below the line and 20 over-trick points above the line. Deal 6: East bids and makes 6♦ - a small slam holding all five top honours. This scores a game of 120 contract points and earns a slam bonus of 750 points above the line (East-West being vulnerable). 150 honour points are scored above the line for holding all five honours. Having again accumulated 100 or more points below the line, East-West win a second game; a horizontal line is drawn to end the rubber. Rubber Bonus: At the conclusion of the rubber, a rubber bonus is awarded. In this case, East-West have won in three games and receive a 500 point rubber bonus above the line. Total: The scores for each side are totalled and East-West (the 'They' on the score sheet) win the rubber. .