You understand that in real life, the cases where the cards of each deal are stored are numbered. Each number corresponds to a vulnerability situation, which you can see by comparing the color of the stickers of your team and those of the opposing team (North and South, East and West).
Are the stickers green? You are non-vulnerable. Are they red? You are vulnerable. For example, here the North-South team is non-vulnerable and the East-West team is vulnerable (and the dealer is East):
Vulnerable means that the scores for games, slams and down tricks are higher. Non-vulnerable, the scores are the ones I gave you so far. For example, a vulnerable game won scores about 600 points (vs 400 non-vulnerable) and a small slam scores 1400 points (vs 1000 non-vulnerable). Look here all the scores, if you are interested.
This influences strategy. When you are non-vulnerable and they are vulnerable, you can dare to make slightly crazy bids: even if you are doubled, their game scores so many points that they will often prefer to bid higher. On the other hand, if you are vulnerable, beware: down tricks cost a fortune!
Two identical contracts, undoubled, each go down one trick. The first declarer is non-vulnerable, the second is vulnerable. Who pays the most?
Section QuizAnd I will teach you one last very well-known bid before we part: Blackwood. Everyone plays it. It allows you to check that not too many key cards are missing when you want to play a slam in trump (Aces, the King of trump, the Queen of trump...).
The trump is Hearts. You hold the Ace of Spades, the Ace of Clubs, the King of Hearts and the Queen of Hearts. How many key cards does this represent?
Section QuizYou have a fit in Hearts. On 4NT Blackwood, you hold exactly one key card and the Queen of Hearts. Which response do you choose?
Section QuizThen you just have to count:
- To play a good small slam, you need at least 5 key cards or 4 key cards and the Queen of trump. Otherwise, the probabilities of winning it will not be in your favor.
- To play a good grand slam, you need not only the 5 key cards, but also the Queen of trump!
After the auction in the table below, should you respond by indicating your key cards in this course?
Section Quiz| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1♥ | Pass | 3♥ | Pass |
| 4NT | Pass |
At No Trump, partner plays the 3, dummy plays the 2. In third position, you hold QJ106. Which card do you choose to play an honor while respecting the correct signaling?
Knowledge ReactivationNow it's your turn to play on the following deals, and pay close attention to vulnerability: it can influence your decision!