Blum on Bridge
Sacrifices... you don't have to give up your first born
Although one of the Webster's Dictionary definitions of "sacrifice" indirectly refers to the above headline, fortunately for us bridge enthusiasts, it has a second meaning that is less obligatory - "a loss for a definite purpose". To be a consistent winner at the game, one must understand the theory of sacrificing and when to apply it. It is one of those large steps that make the difference between an above-average bridge player and the expert.The main idea of sacrificing is obtaining the smallest possible minus score when the hand belongs to the opponents. Sacrifice situations occur in both rubber bridge and duplicate. However, because of the nature of matchpoints, opportunities arise more frequently in duplicate or tournament bridge.
Rubber bridge and money bridge are synonymous. At the end of the game there are some with fuller pockets and some with emptier ones. Bidding and making a vulnerable game in a major suit earns the victors 620 points. As Bobby Wolff states in his less-than-a-dollar pamphlet titled "sacrifices," you will never see a good money player chortling with triumph after suffering a 500-point set to stop a vulnerable game.
Wolff goes on to say to consider the odds. Suppose on five consecutive deals you successfully save and are defeated 500, where the opponents could have garnered 620. Five times 120 equals 600. That 600 looks good until the sixth deal, where you could have set your adversaries a trick. You see, the results of losing 500 plus the 100 you would have earned setting the opponents equals the same 600 you won on the previous five deals. Being right five out six times works out to 83.3 percent in order to break even. If Connie and I - on our frequent visits to Las Vegas - went to the worst casino, we'd get better odds plus free drinks.
Wolff condenses rubber bridge saves into three categories; (1), "cheap" saves where you figure to only concede 300 points or less vs. likely games and no more than 500 points against certain slams; (2), "advance" saves which preempt your opponents' bidding space and may either push them too high or make it difficult to reach their optimum contract; and (3), those best rare "saves" that make because pard has just the right distribution or you find a lucky lie of the cards.
S.J. Simon, a great British player, says about rubber bridge sacrifices, "When is doubt, DON'T!"
With no money involved, sacrificing at matchpoints alters our thinking. Each board stands on its own, so losing 500 points against major suit games or 1,400 against major suit slams may well earn a "top". There are four factors to consider, the most important being "Is it likely that most pairs will reach the game or slam your opponents have bid?" Add a second factor, "What hope is there in defeating their contract?" On deals where it isn't clear, don't sack. Try to defeat the game or slam.
Of course you must consider whether your sacrifice will cost too much. In other words "will you be defeated more tricks than the value of the opponents' contract?" Finally "Is there any chance you might defeat them if they do bid one level higher?" I want to give you a good rule to follow - the 5 level is for the opponents. Most of the time the opponents have bid at that level, it is best to pass and NOT double, as any plus score will be close to a top.
Wolff brings the above factors into play with the following hand and auction:
You holdQ108
964
9832
KT9. RHO, 1 heart; YOU, pass; LHO, 2 hearts; PARD, 3 diamonds; RHO, 3 hearts; YOU, pass; LHO, pass; PARD, 4 diamonds; RHO, pass; YOU, pass; LHO, 4 hearts; PARD, pass; RHO, pass; YOU ???
At first, it looks right to sack because our four diamonds make defensive chances remote. However, our second factor indicates 4 hearts will not be bid at most tables. Hey, at our table the opponents' were willing to play 3 hearts. Consider the matchpoint odds. If you sacrifice at five diamonds your opponents who were hard-pressed to bid four certainly won't bid five hearts. The following may well occur in a 12-table game. A heart part score bid 8 times; 4-hearts twice; 5-diamonds doubled twice. The decision isn't close because 8 of the 12 tables didn't bid game so to sacrifice and lose a potential 300-500 points against their 140 would be ludicrous. As a matter of fact, defeating 4-hearts will give only you and another pair a plus score and a tie for top.
The "Encyclopedia of Bridge" has it figured that between one-third and one-half of the time, a non-vulnerable sacrifice will produce a profit against a vulnerable suit game. Keep this in mind next time you are at the table.
