[llorton]

I was reviewing hand records from local stratified duplicate game (0-750) to see where I and my partners are losing points. (I am a new-ish player but generally do reasonably well in these games.)

Aside from the sin of not balancing enough, I have a leak in my game where I tend to play in naturally appealing suit contracts rather than NT.

I read a long discussion in this forums on hand evaluation/point count/quick trick that gave several and complex point count suggestions but didn't result in any tangible take aways that a 'novice' might use in the time limits of a game so my questions are these:

What criteria are useful when deciding to pull a suit contract into NT to take advantage of scoring difference?

What factors does one weigh to minimize risk?

Any concepts, however unproven, are welcome.

Please explain as if I am 5 (approximately).

Thanks in advance.

[apollo1201]

Wécome tu the forum!

Reviewing one s records after the tourney and analyzing them is probably the best way to improve. So you are on track.

I would imagine, though, that NT vs suit is not the biggest part of MP loss you face.

Landing in good contracts, playing dummy well, leading the good card and getting a good defense are probably bigger gains to go after.


Fine tuning the NT vs suit can be masteried later except obvious cases (with weak hand, prefer to play in your suit even if 52 fit, rather than NT) whose occurrences you have to learn: 1m-1M-1NT rebid your 5-cd suit when weak, like you transfer to it over a strong NT.