Scoring And Score-sheets
The score is a very important incident of the game of Auction, and to
keep it properly requires considerable care and skill.
The figures frequently run into high numbers on both sides, and when
the rubber continues during three hotly contested games, they become
quite voluminous.
The score-sheet should be left on the table, and the writing on it
should be of such size that it can be seen at a glance. This saves time
and trouble, as it relieves the players from the necessity of asking
the state of the score.
In some clubs two scores are kept, so that, in the only too probable
contingency of a mistake being made, it may invariably be detected.
This, however, is unnecessary, and at times confusing. The extra sheet
is also apt to prove annoying, because of the space it occupies upon
the table. One score is quite sufficient, if it be competently kept,
and each entry, as well as the additions, verified.
There are two totally different types of Auction score-sheets. The one
which is used in perhaps ninety per cent. of the private games, and,
strange as it may seem, in many clubs, has absolutely no excuse for its
existence, except that it was the first to be introduced and has the
reputation of being universally used in foreign countries. It requires
scoring above and below the line, which is a most cumbersome and
dilatory proposition. Keeping tally by this method involves, at the end
of a rubber, long mathematical problems, which, as the scorer is then
in a hurry, frequently result in serious, and at times undiscovered,
mistakes.
The modern system adopted in the up-to-date clubs, in which the game
has received its most scientific development, and in the highest class
of social games, does away with the antiquated methods and exacting
mathematical problems of the above- and below-the-line system, by using
a form of score-sheet which allows and encourages the scorer to
mentally compute simple sums during the progress of the rubber. By the
elimination of complicated figuring, it minimizes the opportunity for
mistake, and delay at the end of the rubber.
All players are doubtless familiar with the old system of above-and
below-the-line scoring, but only three classes now use it:
A. Those who have never had the modern system and its advantages
called to their attention.
B. Those who believe that, having once become accustomed to any
method, it should never be changed for a better.
C. Those who believe that, because foreign clubs adopt a certain
method, we should do the same.
It is probably wasting time to attempt to convert any representative of
either B or C, and fortunately for the intelligence of American card
players there are comparatively few who deserve to be included in
either of these classifications.
Class A, however, comprises the vast majority of Auction players, who
have either never had the modern system of scoring called to their
attention, or, if they have seen it, have not thoroughly grasped its
numerous advantages, and have continued the old method merely because
they were more familiar with it and did not perfectly understand the
new. It is not putting the matter too strongly to assert that every
intelligent scorer, who gives the new plan a thorough test, never
returns to the trials and vexations incident to keeping the tally above
and below the line.
Sample sheets are appended, showing the up-to-date scoring-blank as it
appears at the beginning of the rubber; the same sheet with a rubber
scored, the net totals being computed at the end of each game; and also
with the same rubber scored, the net totals being computed at the end
of each deal. One scorer will prefer to make up his totals at the end
of a game, another will elect to compute them at the termination of
each deal; but either way the advantages of the score-sheet are
apparent.
It goes without saying that any system which allows a player to see at
a glance, not only the score of the game, but also the exact status of
the rubber, is more advantageous than one which, until some time after
the rubber is completed, may leave him in the dark as to whether he is
ahead or behind. Some players allow, whether they or their opponents
are in the lead upon the total score of the rubber, to affect their
declarations and doubles. This practice cannot be enthusiastically
commended, but all must admit that for such players the new scoring
system is most essential.
It is, however, mainly as a labor- and time-saving device that the new
plan is advocated. If any one doubt, let him keep the score of any
rubber under the old method while the same rubber is being scored by
some one familiar with the advantages of the new. The result is sure to
be most convincing. Under the new method, the short sums in addition or
subtraction are mentally computed, during the deal of the cards, etc.
This occupies waste time only, and at the end of the rubber, leaves a
very simple, frequently nothing more than a mental, problem.
It has been estimated that during an evening's play, at least one more
rubber can be completed when the scoring is conducted under the new
method.
The various score-sheets, all showing the same rubber, follow.
SAMPLE OF THE NEW SCORE-SHEET WITHOUT ANY ENTRY
-----------------------------------------------------
OUR SCORE OPPONENTS' SCORE
-----------------------------------------------------
TRICKS HONORS TOTALS TOTALS TRICKS HONORS
=======+========+========++========+========+========
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
-----------------------------------------------------
SAMPLE OF NEW FORM OF SCORE-SHEET SHOWING A RUBBER SCORED
WITH NET TOTALS COMPUTED AT END OF EACH GAME
-----------------------------------------------------
OUR SCORE OPPONENTS' SCORE
-----------------------------------------------------
TRICKS HONORS TOTALS TOTALS TRICKS HONORS
=======+========+========++========+========+========
16 32 18 72
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
100 30
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
60 60 268 120
=======+========+========++========+========+========
(148)
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
216 266 27 18
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
20 30 414 145 48 52
=======+========+========++========+========+========
(269) 200
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
64 249 100
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
36 518 356 24 32
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
21 56
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
36 36
=======+========+========++========+========+========
(162)
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
250
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
412
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
-----------------------------------------------------
The score included in the circle is the net total at the end of
each game. It is obtained by subtracting the smaller score from the
larger; as, for example, in the first game above, 120 from 268, which
leaves a net of 148. If a scorer find it more satisfactory to subtract
when the figures are in line, he can always write the smaller amount
under the larger; as, for example, the 120 under the 268.
SAMPLE OF NEW FORM OF SCORE-SHEET SHOWING SAME RUBBER
SCORED WITH NET TOTALS COMPUTED AT END OF EACH DEAL
-----------------------------------------------------
OUR SCORE OPPONENTS' SCORE
-----------------------------------------------------
TRICKS HONORS TOTALS TOTALS TRICKS HONORS
=======+========+========++========+========+========
16 32 48
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
42 18 72
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
100 28 30
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
60 60 148
=======+========+========++========+========+========
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
=======+========+========++========+========+========
103 27 18
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
216 319
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
20 30 369
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
269 48 52
=======+========+========++========+========+========
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
=======+========+========++========+========+========
64 133 200
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
36 69 100
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
13 24 32
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
21 56 90
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
36 36 162
=======+========+========++========+========+========
250
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
412
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
-------+--------+--------++--------+--------+--------
-----------------------------------------------------
All figures under the head of totals are net, and show at the end of
each deal the exact status of the rubber. It is also possible, when the
above method is employed, to further reduce the amount of bookkeeping
by making only one entry whenever one pair scores honors and the other
a penalty. This method could have been employed above, deal 3 of game
1, by merely entering 70 under "Our Score" Honors, and also in deal 2
of game 3, by entering 64 under "Opponents' Score" Honors.
SAMPLE SHOWING SAME RUBBER SCORED UNDER OLD SYSTEM
WITH LONG ADDITIONS AND SUBTRACTION AT END OF RUBBER
-----------------------
WE THEY
-----------+-----------
36
56
36 32
64 100
30 200
216 52
60 18
100 30
32 72
===========+============
16 18
60
-----------+------------
20 27
48
-----------+------------
21 24
36
250 621
1033
621
412
===========+============
THE SCORE OF THE RUBBERS IS BEST KEPT ON A SHEET OF
THE FOLLOWING CHARACTER
SCORE BY RUBBERS
-------------------------------------------------------
NAMES +-+-+-+-+-+-
------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-
------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-
------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-
------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-
------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-
------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-
------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-
------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-
------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-
------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-
------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-
------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-
------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-
TOTAL
-------------------------------------------------------
THE FOLLOWING SHOWS HOW THIS SCORE SHOULD BE KEPT
SCORE BY RUBBERS
---------------------------------------------------------
NAMES +-+-+-+-+-+ -
------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++--+--
Smith 2 2 2 3 3 2
------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++--+--
Jones 2 2 6 5 5 6
------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++--+--
Brown 2 5 5 4 6 6
------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++--+--
White 21 1 2 XXX X
------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++--+--
Green 31 1 1 2
------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++--+--
King 31 1 3 4
------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++--+--
------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++--+--
------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++--+--
------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++--+--
------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++--+--
------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++--+--
------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++--+--
TOTAL 44888888991010
---------------------------------------------------------
It is always well to total at the end of each rubber and to note the
size of the rubber. These precautions make it easy to correct mistakes,
should any occur.
Next:
The Laws Of Auction Bridge
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The Finesse
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