Evaluation of the hands to the bridge

The Évaluation of the hands to the bridge describes the whole of the techniques used by the players to exert their judgment at the time of the phase of the biddings.

These techniques present at the same time a great diversity and a relative universality: indeed, if there exist many methods evaluation, the large majority of the players and systems are based about on the same family of techniques. Indeed, the evaluation is not an end in itself; she is generally the base of a method which will propose, for each combination of force (value provided by the system of evaluation) and of the shape of a hand a bidding in connection with the situation.

One can understand here that the importance of the system of evaluation, preeminent with the whole beginning of the biddings, grows blurred progressively of their development in front of the wealth of information which they bring and in front of the combinative complexity which results from this.

Count in liftings

Chronologically, it is the first method implemented. As of the years 1930, Ely Culbertson, in its Blue Book proposes a table of equivalence between honors, only or grouped, and many liftings. The account rests on the probability of carrying out a lifting with the honor or the group of honors considered; have is worth thus 1 lifting, a King in the air half, AR is worth 2 liftings, AD 1 and half, etc

One retained of it today that an opening " normale" promises 2 liftings and half known as of defense, i.e. resulting from large honors which will be carried out whatever the contract (with the most frequent distributions).

One uses another account today, known as in liftings of play , or his equivalent, into losing , to evaluate strong hands and distributed. The basic principle is to apply the account of Culbertson for the first 3 charts of each color. The supernumerary charts are regarded as gaining. For example, hand ADRDV987A4AD2 corresponds to 4 losing (½ with, 1 with, 1 with and 1 ½ with) or 9 liftings of play (1 ½ with, 5 with, 1 with, 1 ½ with), which should classically result in using an opening sustained pressure of handle.

Count in points honor

It is today the system most frequently adopted. Proposed as of the beginnings of the Bridge (towards 1930) by Milton Work, it is of an extreme simplicity:

Ace = 4:00;
King = 3:00;
Lady = 2:00;
Servant = 1:00

There are thus 10 points H by colors; 40 points H for the whole of the charts.

The attempts at evaluation of the intermediate charts (10, 9,8 etc) appeared unnecessarily complex without showing their interest.

One can note the statistical work undertaken rather recently by Jean-Rene Vernes and Bernard Charles to estimate the potential of liftings of each chart (in practice, largest charts, of the Ace to the 9). While being based on a simple algebraic relation (40 points = 13 liftings), this work has finally confirmed the intuition of the players of bridge for 70 years; only small corrective measures, the Ace is worth a little more than 4 points, and the 10 and the 9 a little more than zero. But the authors themselves confirm it, these variations are too weak to justify the least correction in practice.

Count in points distribution

As its name indicates it, this account aims to evaluate the potential conferred on the hand by the distribution. One agrees today on the following concepts:

Points length (points L): 1 point for any chart starting from the fifth in a color ordered by at least a large honor.

This account is, like the points H, a measurement of the intrinsic power of the hand, contrary to the following.

Points of distribution (items D):

1 D for a doubleton;
2 D for a Singleton
3D for a baffle;
2 D for 9th asset known (counted to the player which makes the discovery of it), then 1 D for each following.

The points D are deducted only in the event of the FIT with the partner. They should not be counted at the time of the opening.

Italian controls

It is a method of account of the large honors (Ace and Kings), which allots to the Ace the value of 2 controls and to the King that of 1 control. Ace and Kings being fundamental charts in the raised contracts, it is easy to understand that this account is addressed above all in the searches of slam.

Points ZAR

This method was worked out by Zar Petkov and takes into account points of honor, controls and distribution:

Points of honor following the traditional account (4-3-2-1)
traditional Italian Controls (As=2, Roi=1)
Distribution, by adding the sum two bigger lengths and the difference between longest and shortest.

For example, hand A54324DV 863R 2 is worth 10 (H) +3 (C)+10 (5+5) +4 (5-1) = 27 points ZAR. In this account, the opening is to 26.

One can find the explanation complete on the Web page published by his author HTTP: /www.zarpoints.com.

Forgotten methods

To allot to a hand of bridge a univocal value is a very widespread temptation, which constantly caused the curiosity of the players and stimulated the imagination of the authors. One for a long time forgot methods of accounts in points S, J, X or Y. One will retain especially that the best method is that which calls upon the reflection of the players and guard in line of sight the objective of the biddings: to count the number of realizable liftings by the combination of the two associated hands.

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