Strategies for IMP Barometer Scoring

[Gary Seckinger]

I haven't played a lot of online bridge, but circumstances recently
have forced me to run the gauntlet.
I noticed that in many events the scoring format is barometer imps.
I understand IMP strategy in general, but in the barometer format; if
one is near the front, late in the round, (playing good players) should
a little more caution be used in bidding?
Conversely, if having an average game and playing some weaker players
near the end, should you increase the aggressiveness of your game/slam
calls?
Or in a short match, just throw caution to the wind, boards 1 through
12 and bid game if you even sniff it?
Thanks,
Gary

[John Schuler]

On 10 Oct 2006 21:44:55 -0700, "Gary Seckinger"

Post by Gary Seckinger
I haven't played a lot of online bridge, but circumstances recently
have forced me to run the gauntlet.
I noticed that in many events the scoring format is barometer imps.
I understand IMP strategy in general, but in the barometer format; if
one is near the front, late in the round, (playing good players) should
a little more caution be used in bidding?
Conversely, if having an average game and playing some weaker players
near the end, should you increase the aggressiveness of your game/slam
calls?
Or in a short match, just throw caution to the wind, boards 1 through
12 and bid game if you even sniff it?
Thanks,
Gary

I can only speak to the current Okbridge 12 board IMP matches (they
used to be 24 boards).

It's quite rare to win with anything less than 2.25 IMPs/board. IMHO
you are not going to consistently win thse tournaments by playing a
"normal" IMP style - you only need to win a team game by one IMP. You
must generate a bigger score, by bidding any vulnerable game with a
25% chance. Any slam on a finesse must be bid - you are tring to
generate a big score, not just a winning one.

Then there is the issue of the last round. Pairs do many, many strange
things on the last round becuase it IS the last round. The scores will
be more skewed than normal. Unless you have a monster score going (> 5
IMPs/board) you cannot settle for "par" on the last round even though
you are playing the leaders or 2nd place team. Both of you are in
danger of being overtaken by the pairs in 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc. place.
Keep up the good work and keep the presure on the opponents (by
bidding skinny Vul games).

P.S. Any time I think I have an advantage over the other pairs in a
slam decision auction, I'll bid it on those grounds alone. Slams pay
off better then games becuase you won't have nearly so much company...

[Michael Angelo Ravera]

Post by John Schuler
On 10 Oct 2006 21:44:55 -0700, "Gary Seckinger"

Post by Gary Seckinger
I haven't played a lot of online bridge, but circumstances recently
have forced me to run the gauntlet.
I noticed that in many events the scoring format is barometer imps.
I understand IMP strategy in general, but in the barometer format; if
one is near the front, late in the round, (playing good players) should
a little more caution be used in bidding?
Conversely, if having an average game and playing some weaker players
near the end, should you increase the aggressiveness of your game/slam
calls?
Or in a short match, just throw caution to the wind, boards 1 through
12 and bid game if you even sniff it?
Thanks,
Gary

I can only speak to the current Okbridge 12 board IMP matches (they
used to be 24 boards).
It's quite rare to win with anything less than 2.25 IMPs/board. IMHO
you are not going to consistently win thse tournaments by playing a
"normal" IMP style - you only need to win a team game by one IMP. You
must generate a bigger score, by bidding any vulnerable game with a
25% chance. Any slam on a finesse must be bid - you are tring to
generate a big score, not just a winning one.

In my IMP game, which is typically 24 boards, 2.25 IMP/B for the full
24 has been exceeded only 4 times in the last 7 months (and only then
by a little). Things will be slightly more crazy for 12 boards, but
some of the swings will be generated by giveaways rather than
takeaways.

Yeah, you will probably need a +28 or better to win the 12-board
tournament, but that's only two big swings or 3 "strains to game". If
you are ordinarily a solid +1.5 IMP/B player, you only need about one
gift to get to your +28. If you typically play the field even, I'd say
that you should probably watch the scoreboard and bid the 25% slam on
the 12th board, if you see that a +12 will win it for you and see if
you can play the spots off of the cards or induce defensive error.

Post by John Schuler
Then there is the issue of the last round. Pairs do many, many strange
things on the last round becuase it IS the last round. The scores will
be more skewed than normal. Unless you have a monster score going (> 5
IMPs/board) you cannot settle for "par" on the last round even though
you are playing the leaders or 2nd place team. Both of you are in
danger of being overtaken by the pairs in 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc. place.
Keep up the good work and keep the presure on the opponents (by
bidding skinny Vul games).
P.S. Any time I think I have an advantage over the other pairs in a
slam decision auction, I'll bid it on those grounds alone. Slams pay
off better then games becuase you won't have nearly so much company...

[John Schuler]

On 11 Oct 2006 12:45:38 -0700, "Michael Angelo Ravera"

Post by Michael Angelo Ravera

Post by John Schuler
On 10 Oct 2006 21:44:55 -0700, "Gary Seckinger"

Post by Gary Seckinger
I haven't played a lot of online bridge, but circumstances recently
have forced me to run the gauntlet.
I noticed that in many events the scoring format is barometer imps.
I understand IMP strategy in general, but in the barometer format; if
one is near the front, late in the round, (playing good players) should
a little more caution be used in bidding?
Conversely, if having an average game and playing some weaker players
near the end, should you increase the aggressiveness of your game/slam
calls?
Or in a short match, just throw caution to the wind, boards 1 through
12 and bid game if you even sniff it?
Thanks,
Gary

I can only speak to the current Okbridge 12 board IMP matches (they
used to be 24 boards).
It's quite rare to win with anything less than 2.25 IMPs/board. IMHO
you are not going to consistently win thse tournaments by playing a
"normal" IMP style - you only need to win a team game by one IMP. You
must generate a bigger score, by bidding any vulnerable game with a
25% chance. Any slam on a finesse must be bid - you are tring to
generate a big score, not just a winning one.

In my IMP game, which is typically 24 boards, 2.25 IMP/B for the full
24 has been exceeded only 4 times in the last 7 months (and only then
by a little). Things will be slightly more crazy for 12 boards, but
some of the swings will be generated by giveaways rather than
takeaways.
Yeah, you will probably need a +28 or better to win the 12-board
tournament, but that's only two big swings or 3 "strains to game". If
you are ordinarily a solid +1.5 IMP/B player, you only need about one
gift to get to your +28.

It ain't that easy. It's precisely that "stodgy" style that gets a
pair to 1.5 that must be resisted.

If you typically play the field even, I'd say

Post by Michael Angelo Ravera
that you should probably watch the scoreboard and bid the 25% slam on
the 12th board, if you see that a +12 will win it for you and see if
you can play the spots off of the cards or induce defensive error.

Post by John Schuler
Then there is the issue of the last round. Pairs do many, many strange
things on the last round becuase it IS the last round. The scores will
be more skewed than normal. Unless you have a monster score going (> 5
IMPs/board) you cannot settle for "par" on the last round even though
you are playing the leaders or 2nd place team. Both of you are in
danger of being overtaken by the pairs in 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc. place.
Keep up the good work and keep the presure on the opponents (by
bidding skinny Vul games).
P.S. Any time I think I have an advantage over the other pairs in a
slam decision auction, I'll bid it on those grounds alone. Slams pay
off better then games becuase you won't have nearly so much company...

[Jürgen R.]

[...]

Post by John Schuler
IMHO
you are not going to consistently win thse tournaments by playing a
"normal" IMP style - you only need to win a team game by one IMP. You
must generate a bigger score, by bidding any vulnerable game with a
25% chance. Any slam on a finesse must be bid - you are tring to
generate a big score, not just a winning one.

If you can convince your opponenents to bid any vulnerable 25% game
then your stodgy style will win and vice versa.