We start with two important facts:
1. You are not competing with the room, just with that one opposing pair playing your way at the other table.
2. Your performance is not measured simply by whether you did better or worse than that opposing pair, but by how much better or worse.
On every board the difference between your team’s score and your opponents’ is measured in IMPs (international match points). A sliding scale of IMPs from 1 to 24 is bottom left on our score sheets. The scale is similar to the score difference, but dampened a bit (eg a difference of 100 is worth 3 IMPs; a difference of 200 is worth 5 IMPs; a difference of 400 is worth 9). At the end of all the boards these IMPs are totalled to get a net difference in IMPs for the match. This difference is now converted to VPs (Victory Points) on a scale that shares 20 VPs between the two teams in a ratio that reflects the size of your win or loss. Let’s say that you win by 12 IMPs. This is expressed as a 14:6 win.
To show how important IMPs are in shaping your bidding and play tactics please study this illustration of just one board:
At the other table, the pair sitting the same way as you bid to 4H. They make their contract. You are both vul so they score 620. There is no doubt that this hand belongs in a heart contract, but you may realistically achieve any of the following five outcomes:
| Contract and result | Your score | Their score | Net score + | Net score - | IMPs Us | IMPs Them |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3H making 4 | 170 | 620 | 450 | 10 | ||
| 4H making 4 | 620 | 620 | - | - | - | - |
| 4H making 5 | 650 | 620 | 30 | 1 | ||
| 4H one off | -100 | 620 | 720 | 12 | ||
| 4Hx one off | -200 | 620 | 820 | 13 |
So, from the illustration you will see that these hints make sense:
• If you are thinking that game, or slam, is 50/50 then bid it.
• If you find a good fit in a minor, then be happy with it. Don’t strain to find a major or no trump contract instead because the gain in IMPs is very small.
• If you discover a gross misfit then stop bidding as soon as you can. Don’t get pushed into an unmakeable game.
• Make your contract. Go for overtricks only if there is no risk to your contract in doing so. An overtrick gains you 1 IMP. The loss of a game will cost you 10 IMPs not vulnerable, 12 IMPs vulnerable.
