LEVELS OF DECISION AND SCORING

Draw attention to the fact that the Decision Table only has seven steps and get them to deduce that you can only play at seven levels.

Improvise an "on the spot" exercise: hide the column "Number of tricks" and point at random at the range of points to find the corresponding number of tricks to bid.

Make it clear from now on that they will make their "bid for a contract" differently. They will no longer say "I bid for so many tricks" but "I bid for a contract of ….. (1 to 7) no trumps."

Explain at length why 1NT corresponds to seven tricks and underline the notion of six tricks being nearly half of the available tricks. It is normal for one pair to commit themselves to taking more tricks than the other pair who have less points.

Show the connection between the strength of one pair and the number of tricks that they should take as a result of this strength. Bridge is a "fair" game where each person does what they can with the means at their disposal. (advice 3.1)