[cjames]

I don't know if this question has been up before, but what is the best tactics for 8-board TM's?

Should you bid a little more agrresively when it comes to games? Or should you be a little bit more carefull, cause -100 in one room opposite partscore in the other can be costly.

[Rossoneri]

More questions that I am also wondering about:

what about 10, 12 or 16 board matches?

Does it matter if it's Swiss or RR?

[cherdano]

If it is Swiss or RR, just play as if you were playing a very long team match. If it is a knockout, uh I have never done that but I would play normally on the first few boards, but try to keep a good guess for the running score.

[MFA]

I just play bridge.

These dubious tactical considerations tend only to cloud my mind and distract me from the much more important things:

1) worry about the present board only
2) make good bridge decisions - consistently.

[helene_t]

A one-board match in a K/O is essentially BAM so one should play MP strategy. In principle, strict IMP strategies apply to long matches only and the shorter the match, the more MP-ish you should play.

In practice I think this is a very weak effect, of academic interest only. As MFA said: just play bridge.

As for taking the state of the match into account, it doesn't appear very rational to me, except in extreme cases such as when you know you're trailing by 10 IMPs before the last board in a K/O match. I may be wrong on this, haven't given it too much thought, but the bridge community is full of conventional-wisdom statistical ideas which are known be invalid and my feeling is that this "state-of-the-match" thing is, while theoretically somewhat valid, grossly overstated. In any case it is way out of scope for players like me who have troubles enough focusing on the current board already. Of course stronger players can afford to factor in more things.

[Gerben42]

Usually you don't know if you are 10 behind. You'll know if you are 30 behind or 30 ahead (then it won't matter much), but not 10 since the other table is also there. So I just play bridge.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

The shorter team the match the more important
becomes the add. IMP you may get for an overtrick.

So, while it does not really pay to look for every
overtrick in long matches as hard as possible,
(and such a behaviour may even cost, because you
loose stamina), it will pay off in short matches.

That does not mean you should risk the contract,
only that you it pays to search longer for add. ways
to get the add. trick.

This is just one possible conclusion of Helens first
statement, and it does not involve making prediction
about the state of the match.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[paulg]

On Sunday morning I will be defending my 2-board KO Teams title at Scotland's Autumn Congress.

The important tactics are:

• draw good team mates
  
• make overtricks
  
• enjoy the event

The final is actually over 3 boards so you will need to adjust your tactics appropriately.

Paul

[helene_t]

Wow, I hope for those who come from far away and are eliminated in the first round that the weather will be fine

Anyway, good luck to you on Sunday. I'm happy to hear that you intend to behave appropriately

[hotShot]

cjames, on Oct 14 2007, 10:01 AM, said:

I don't know if this question has been up before, but what is the best tactics for 8-board TM's?

To answer that question you need to know your situation.

If you are the underdog the tactic will be different from that you choose being the superior team.

If you are the superior team just play bridge. You will make an extra trick here or there being declarer and you will win an extra trick on defense, winning a (game) swing because your partners will bid or play better.

If you are the underdog, take more (calculated) risks it is hard to compensate a game swing within 8 boards. So bid a little more aggressive (e.g. 44% games instead of 48% games) and defend a little more aggressive (imagine the best possible hand partner can have that will make opps go done, and play as if he has that until you know better).
This tactic will make you loose higher than you would normally do most of the time, but it will allow you to win on rare lucky days.

If you don't know your situation, assume you are superior.

[ArtK78]

I will just add some advice from a very respected player that has served me well.

Just play your best game. If you play your best game, you will do well.

You would be surprised how often merely playing well is good enough to beat even the strongest teams.

[Walddk]

helene_t, on Oct 18 2007, 01:50 PM, said:

Wow, I hope for those who come from far away and are eliminated in the first round that the weather will be fine

It's actually just one (and a small one) of several tournaments at Scottish congresses. Starting Friday afternoon, finishing late Sunday evening. They are very nice; I think I have attended around 15 congresses at the Hydro in Peebles.

Now that you are moving to Lancaster, you should go there some day, Helene. Further info at

http://www.scottishbridge.co.uk/

Perhaps we could even play as a pair if you're interested ... as long as you promise that Dutch won't be the language we use when we discuss system, etc.

Roland

[han]

Sounds like an interesting event Paul, good luck. Do most people speak English at these congresses?

[paulg]

Hannie, on Oct 18 2007, 04:22 PM, said:

Sounds like an interesting event Paul, good luck. Do most people speak English at these congresses?

The 2-board KO is a charity event on Sunday morning, the alternative being bed, church or an early start on the golf course.

English is tolerated at the congress. Alternative foreign languages preferred.

Paul

[Walddk]

cardsharp, on Oct 18 2007, 06:08 PM, said:

Hannie, on Oct 18 2007, 04:22 PM, said:

Sounds like an interesting event Paul, good luck. Do most people speak English at these congresses?

The 2-board KO is a charity event on Sunday morning, the alternative being bed, church or an early start on the golf course.

English is tolerated at the congress. Alternative foreign languages preferred.

Paul

Ha! My estimate is that approximately 99.974354% of the guests are Scottish. It's obviously always debatable whether Scottish dialects can be regarded as English

Roland

[jdonn]

MFA, on Oct 18 2007, 05:00 AM, said:

I just play bridge.

These dubious tactical considerations tend only to cloud my mind and distract me from the much more important things:

1) worry about the present board only
2) make good bridge decisions - consistently.

I agree with this, I think people get too caught up in the tactics of their current form of scoring and length of match. Just try to play well and make what you think is the right decision.

[helene_t]

There appears to be a strict dress code, jeans and t-shirts not allowed. Mobile telephones not allowed during play. Probably not allowed during the award ceremony either, I suppose, allthough that is not explicitly stated.

[Walddk]

helene_t, on Oct 18 2007, 06:42 PM, said:

There appears to be a strict dress code, jeans and t-shirts not allowed. Mobile telephones not allowed during play. Probably not allowed during the award ceremony either, I suppose, allthough that is not explicitly stated.

Not correct. Casual clothes perfectly legitimate in the afternoon sessions, collar shirt, tie and jacket in the evenings. Some wear dinner jackets. As far the ladies are concerned, I guess most wear skirts or dresses in the evenings.

Very relaxed atmosphere. The occasional ring of a mobile won't cause much of a problem, but I am sure the organisers expect that they are turned off during play.

And yes, the organisers also expect that the award winners don't bring signs when they come to collect their prizes late Sunday night.

Roland

[sceptic]

Quote

There appears to be a strict dress code, jeans and t-shirts not allowed. Mobile telephones not allowed during play. Probably not allowed during the award ceremony either, I suppose, allthough that is not explicitly stated.

Might be worth asking the question if signs are allowed at the award ceremony

[paulg]

sceptic, on Oct 22 2007, 02:05 PM, said:

Quote

There appears to be a strict dress code, jeans and t-shirts not allowed. Mobile telephones not allowed during play. Probably not allowed during the award ceremony either, I suppose, allthough that is not explicitly stated.

Might be worth asking the question if signs are allowed at the award ceremony

No signs visible .... photos.