Optimum contract and par contract

Main article: Bridge scoring

Optimum contract and par contract are two closely related (and sometimes confused) terms in the card game contract bridge:

Optimum contract

The optimum contract is the one that offers the best chance of gaining the most scoring points whilst minimising the risk of failure. It is that contract that cannot be improved upon by further bidding nor could it have been improved upon by taking a different line in earlier bidding.

At Chicago or IMP scoring it is generally worth bidding game even with a slightly less than 50% chance of success due to the relatively high value of the bonuses (especially when vulnerable). In duplicate pairs scoring, the subtle difference between a major suit game, a NT game and a minor suit game make the declaration an important decision.

Each side has its own optimum contract and, for a side with poor hands, "pass" may be the optimum call.

Par contract

Where there is competitive bidding (i.e. both sides are bidding) the extra dimension of sacrificial bidding is added, and the theoretical optimum contract can be overtaken by the par contract. The par contract on a deal is that contract that results from optimal bidding by both sides and that neither side could improve by further bidding. It will either be equal to the optimum contract of one side or it will exceed the optimum contract of both sides. If the latter, it is only considered par if the doubled penalty is less than the value of the opposing optimum contract.

Par score or par result

The par result is that score that arises from the par contract and on which neither side could reasonably improve by changing their line of play.^[1] Game theoreticians would refer to such a par result as a Nash equilibrium.

The term par score originated in the game of golf.

Notes

↑ Francis, Henry G., Editor-in-Chief; Truscott, Alan F., Executive Editor; Francis, Dorthy A., Editor, Sixth Edition (2001). The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge (6th ed.). Memphis, TN: American Contract Bridge League. p. 336. ISBN 0-943855-44-6. OCLC 49606900.

Contract bridge articles

Overview

Introduction	Bridge scoring Contract bridge Duplicate bridge Glossary of contract bridge terms Rubber bridge

See also	Auction bridge Bridge ethics Bridge maxims Bridge Murder case Bridge whist Bridgette British Rule Chicago Computer bridge Contract bridge diagram Duplicate bridge movements Goulash High card by suit History of contract bridge Laws of Duplicate Bridge Masterpoints Minibridge Neuberg formula Screen Singaporean bridge Suit Traveling scoreslip Trump Vugraph

Bidding

Introduction	Bidding system Bridge convention Hand evaluation

Systems	List of bidding systems 2/1 game forcing Acol Bidding system Blue Club Boring Club Bridge Base Basic Bridge World Standard Canapé (bridge) Carrot Club CS System EHAA Fantunes Highly unusual method Kaplan–Sheinwold Little Major Moscito OK bridge 2/1 Polish Club Precision Club Roman Club Romex system Säffle Spade Standard American Strong club system

Conventions	Aspro convention Asptro convention Astro convention Baron convention Bergen raises Blackout convention Blackwood convention Brozel Byzantine Blackwood convention Cappelletti convention Carrot 1NT Carrot 4NT Comfy Canapé Copenhagen convention (bridge) CRASH convention DONT Drury convention Ekren convention Fishbein convention Fit showing jump bid Flannery Forcing notrump Fourth suit forcing Fragment bid Gardener 1NT Gerber convention Ghestem Grand slam force Hello convention Jacoby 2NT Jacoby transfer Kamikaze 1NT Landy Last Train Leaping Michaels Lebensohl Lightner double Lionel convention List of defenses to 1NT Meckwell convention Meyerson convention Michaels cuebid Mini-Roman 2 Diamond Mohan convention Muiderberg convention Multi 2 diamonds Namyats Negative double Negative free bid New minor forcing Norman four notrump Ogust convention Pass-or-correct bid Raptor convention Relay bid Rosenkranz double/redouble Rubens advances Rubensohl San Francisco convention Serious 3NT Slam-seeking conventions Snapdragon double Splinter bid Stayman convention Strong Notrump After Passing (SNAP) Strong two bid Strong two clubs Suction convention Texas transfer Transfer Walsh Unusual notrump Unusual vs. unusual Walsh convention Woolsey convention XY Notrump convention XYZ convention

See also	Balanced hand Balancing (bridge) Bidding box Board (bridge) Brown sticker Convention card Cue bid Five-card majors Forcing bid Forcing pass Gambling 3NT Game try Honor point count Inverted minors Law of total tricks Losing-Trick Count Major suit Minor suit Optimum contract and par contract Overcall Preempt Prepared opening bid Principle of fast arrival Psychic bid Quantitative no trump bids Reverse (bridge) Sacrifice (bridge) Shooting (bridge) Single suiter Strong pass Support double Takeout double Three suiter Two suiter Useful space principle Void (cards) Weak two bid Zar Points

Card play

Introduction	List of play techniques Caddy Card reading Duck Endplay Entry Finesse Hold up Revoke Ruff Safety play

Declarer play	Coups: Alcatraz coup Bath coup Belladonna coup Coup Coup en passant Crocodile coup Deschapelles coup Devil's coup Merrimac coup Morton's fork coup Scissors coup Trump coup Vienna coup Squeezes: Backwash squeeze Cannibal squeeze Clash squeeze Compound squeeze Criss-cross squeeze Double squeeze Entry squeeze Entry-shifting squeeze Guard squeeze Knockout squeeze Non-simultaneous double squeeze Progressive squeeze Pseudo-squeeze Saturated squeeze Simple squeeze Simultaneous double squeeze Single-suit squeeze Squeeze play Stepping-stone squeeze Strip squeeze Triple squeeze Trump squeeze Vice squeeze Winkle squeeze Suit combinations: Suit combination Suit combination – J missing Suit combination – 10 missing Suit combinations – K10 missing

Defender play	Journalist leads Opening lead Rule of 10-12 Rule of 11 Rusinow leads Signal Smith signal

See also	Avoidance play Beer card Bridge probabilities Forcing defense Grosvenor gambit Loser on loser Percentage play Pin (bridge) Principle of restricted choice Shooting Smother play Tempo Trump promotion Uppercut Vacant Places

People and organizations

Administrators, players and writers	ACBL Youngest Life Master List of contract bridge people List of nationality transfers in sport A Terje Aa Pierre Albarran Ron Andersen Martin Andresen Russ Arnold Sabine Auken Walter Avarelli B Lynn Baker Cezary Balicki Hermine Baron Roger Bates Grant Baze Henry Beasley B. Jay Becker Mike Becker Giorgio Belladonna Richard Belton Albert Benjamin Marty Bergen David Berkowitz Lisa Berkowitz Huub Bertens David Bird Cheri Bjerkan Easley Blackwood, Sr. Blue Team Lou Bluhm Norberto Bocchi Janet de Botton Tim Bourke Peter Boyd Malcolm Brachman Bart Bramley Marcelo Branco Mildred Breed Tomas Brenning Raymond Brock John Brown David Bruce Michelle Brunner Walter Buller Chuck Burger Wesley Burrowes C Orlando Campos Mike Cappelletti Gerald Caravelli Drew Casen James Cayne Gabriel Chagas Juanita Chambers Bernie Chazen Curtis Cheek Paul Chemla Dennis Clerkin George Coffin Larry N. Cohen Larry T. Cohen Ben Cohen Gary Cohler Richard Coren Donna Compton Charles Coon Kitty Cooper Barry Crane Carol Crawford John R. Crawford Ely Culbertson Josephine Culbertson D Massimo D'Alelio Dallas Aces Hugh Darwen Lynn Deas Richard DeMartino Seymon Deutsch Mike Develin John Diamond Leslie Dodds Albert Dormer Doug Doub Giorgio Duboin Michel Duguet E Billy Eisenberg Russ Ekeblad Morrie Elis J.B. Elwell Maria Erhart Bob Etter Disa Eythorsdottir F Ben Fain Björn Fallenius Fulvio Fantoni Mary Jane Farell Phil Feldesman Harry Fishbein Arnie Fisher Marty Fleisher Jeremy Flint Pietro Forquet Tony Forrester R.F. Foster Gene Freed Richard Freeman Edith Freilich Richard L. Frey Doris Fuller G Nico Gardener Steve Garner Benito Garozzo Piotr Gawryś Terry W. Gee John Gerber Pierre Ghestem Eldad Ginossar Fred Gitelman Jeff Glick Brian Glubok Ramesh Gokhale Bobby Goldman Arthur S. Goldsmith Agnes Gordon Fritzi Gordon Phil Gordon Charles Goren Michael T. Gottlieb Ross Grabel Matt Granovetter Audrey Grant Eric Greco Alan C. Greenberg Ari Greenberg Gail Greenberg William Grieve Susanna Gross Glenn Grøtheim Nancy Gruver Ace Gutowsky H Garey Hayden Fred Hamilton Bob Hamman Petra Hamman Nicolas Hammond Geoff Hampson Harold Harkavy Maurice Harrison-Gray Emma Jean Hawes Lee Hazen Geir Helgemo Tor Helness Christal Henner Walter Herbert Paul Hodge Marc Hodler Mark Horton Carl Hudecek Roy Hughes Edward Hymes I J Zeke Jabbour George Jacobs Marc Jacobus Oswald Jacoby Pierre Jaïs Marilyn Johnson Henry Jones (Cavendish) Robert F. Jordan K Charles Kalme Mike Kamil Edwin Kantar Edgar Kaplan Gaylor Kasle Ralph Katz Richard H. Katz George S. Kaufman Norman Kay Amalya Lyle Kearse Sami Kehela Hugh Kelsey Alicia Kempner Betty Ann Kennedy Roy Kerr Ron Klinger Martin de Knijff Putte Kock Eric Kokish Kenneth Konstam Valentin Kovachev Jim Krekorian Michał Kwiecień L Mark Lair Hemant Lall Harry Lampert Steve Landen Kyle Larsen Emanuel Lasker Lorenzo Lauria Mike Lawrence Sidney H. Lazard Michael Ledeen Peter Lee Linda Lee James Lemon Peter Leventritt Bobby Levin Jill Levin Irina Levitina Theodore Lightner Harold Lilie Robert Lipsitz Clyde E. Love Paul Lukacs M Iain Macleod Jim Mahaffey Zia Mahmood Merwyn Maier Renee Mancuso Ed Manfield Ronald Mansbridge Rixi Markus Chip Martel Jan Martel Jack Marx Lew Mathe Karen McCallum Jeff Meckstroth Rose Meltzer Adam Meredith Jill Meyers Marion Michielsen Marshall Miles Jacqui Mitchell Sol Mogal John Mohan Victor Mollo Mark Molson Albert H. Morehead Larry Mori Dan Morse Jo Morse Brad Moss Bauke Muller Eric Murray N Bobby Nail Nick Nickell Claudio Nunes O Jack Olsen Jaime Ortiz-Patiño Aileen Osofsky Géza Ottlik P Camillo Pabis Ticci Beth Palmer Mike Passell Richard Pavlicek Jordanis Pavlides Peter Pender Leonard Pennario Carl'Alberto Perroux Olive Peterson Hubert Phillips Sue Picus William Pole Rozanne Pollack Gary Pomerantz Julian Pottage Tony Priday Tommy Prothro Jacek Pszczoła Q Shawn Quinn R Judi Radin George Rapée Terence Reese Doris Rhodes Kay Rhodes Arthur G. Robinson Steve Robinson Jim Robison Andrew Robson Eric Rodwell Bill Root Eunice Rosen Billy Rosen Debbie Rosenberg Michael Rosenberg George Rosenkranz Hugh Ross Alvin Roth Dan Rotman Jeff Rubens Ron Rubin Ira Rubin S Kerri Sanborn Carol Sanders Thomas K. Sanders Boris Schapiro Howard Schenken John Schermer Meyer Schleifer Peter Schneider Barbara Seagram Michael Seamon William Seamon Janice Seamon-Molson A. J. Sefi Martin Seligman Brian Senior Tim Seres Omar Sharif Alfred Sheinwold Shen Chun-shan Ruth Sherman Jaggy Shivdasani Rita Shugart Allan Siebert Sidney Silodor S. J. Simon Dorothy Rice Sims P. Hal Sims Helen Sobel Smith Marc Smith Nicola Smith Mike Smolen Tobi Sokolow Paul Soloway Charles J. Solomon Peggy Solomon Alan Sontag Nathan B. Spingold Ivar Stakgold JoAnna Stansby Lew Stansby Allan Stauber Samuel Stayman Sherman Stearns Paul Stern Fred Stewart Tobias Stone John Sutherlin Peggy Sutherlin John Swanson Paul Swanson Ralph Swimer Peter Swinnerton-Dyer T Edward O. Taylor Tom Townsend Roger Trézel Dorothy Hayden Truscott Alan Truscott U Helen Utegaard V Harold Stirling Vanderbilt Alfredo Versace Daniela von Arnim Ron Von der Porten Waldemar von Zedtwitz Bep Vriend W Margaret Wagar Rhoda Walsh Louis H. Watson C. C. Wei Katherine Wei-Sender Peter Weichsel Howard Weinstein Steve Weinstein Albert Weiss Roy Welland Berry Westra Charles Wigoder Adam Wildavsky Sylvie Willard Chris Willenken Eddie Wold Bobby Wolff Gavin Wolpert Jenny Wolpert Joel Wooldridge Kit Woolsey Milton Work Meike Wortel X Y Sally Young Z Richard Zeckhauser Jack Zhao Pierre Zimmermann Adam Żmudziński

Clubs	Bridge Club Brașov Galatasaray Bridge Team Melville Bridge Club Portland Club (London) Young Chelsea Bridge Club

Governing bodies	American Bridge Association American Contract Bridge League Austrian Bridge Federation Brazilian Bridge Federation British Bridge League Canadian Bridge Federation Dutch Bridge Federation English Bridge Union European Bridge League International Mind Sports Association List of bridge governing bodies Norwegian Bridge Federation World Bridge Federation United States Bridge Federation

Championships

Introduction	List of bridge competitions and awards

World	Bermuda Bowl Bridge at the 2008 World Mind Sports Games Bridge at the 2012 World Mind Sports Games Cavendish Invitational Computer Olympiad McConnell Cup Rosenblum Cup Senior Bowl (bridge) Triple crown of bridge Venice Cup World Bridge Championships World IMP Pairs Championship World Junior Pairs Championship World Junior Teams Championship World Mind Sports Games World Mixed Pairs Championship World Mixed Teams Championship World Open Pairs Championship World Senior Pairs Championship World Senior Teams Championship World Team Olympiad World Transnational Open Teams Championship World Women Pairs Championship

National and Zonal	Buffett Cup Camrose Trophy Commonwealth Nations Bridge Championships European Universities Bridge Championships Gold Cup (bridge) North American bridge Championships: ACBL King or Queen of Bridge Blue Ribbon Pairs Bruce LM-5000 Pairs Chicago Mixed Board-a-Match Fall National Open Pairs Fast Open Pairs Fishbein Trophy Goren Trophy Grand National Teams Hilliard Mixed Pairs Jacoby Open Swiss Teams Keohane North American Swiss Teams Lebhar IMP Pairs Leventritt Silver Ribbon Pairs Machlin Women's Swiss Teams Manfield Non-Life Master Pairs Master Individual Mini-Blue Ribbon Pairs Mini-Spingold Mitchell Board-a-Match Teams Mott-Smith Trophy Nail Life Master Open Pairs National 199er Pairs National 49er Pairs National 99er Pairs Non-Life Master Swiss Teams Norman Kay Platinum Pairs North American Bridge Championships North American Pairs Red Ribbon Pairs Reisinger Rockwell Mixed Pairs Roth Open Swiss Teams Senior Knockout Teams Silodor Open Pairs Smith Life Master Women's Pairs Spingold Sternberg Women's Board-a-Match Teams Truscott Senior Swiss Teams Vanderbilt Trophy Von Zedtwitz Life Master Pairs Wagar Women's Knockout Teams Wernher Open Pairs Whitehead Women's Pairs Young LM-1500 Pairs

Resources

Books	List of bridge books 25 Bridge Conventions You Should Know Bridge Squeezes Complete The Cardturner Design for Bidding Contract Bridge for Beginners Edwin Kantar bibliography Master Point Press Planning the Play of a Bridge Hand Terence Reese bibliography The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge Tickets to the Devil

Magazines	List of bridge magazines Bridge d'Italia Bridge Magazine The Bridge World

External links	Bridge Base Basic Bridge Base Inc. OK bridge 2/1

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