Part Game
There are several different levels of bonuses.
Usually the higher the level of bidding, the higher the bonus. For example, if the declarer takes
all thirteen tricks in a NoTrump contract there is a huge score difference between contracts at the
level of 1 NoTrump (1NT) and contracts in 7 NT.
The purpose of these bonuses makes it advantageous for a partnership to bid as high as they can given the strengths and weaknesses of the cards in their hands, without bidding to a level where it is not possible to make the contract you have bid. This means that your opponents now get bonus points instead of you and your partner.
The most important level is game and game level varies by suit, since different suits are worth different amounts in scoring. The game level for notrump is three, the game level for hearts or spades (the major suits) is four, and the game level for clubs or diamonds (the minor suits) is five.
Because of the value of the game bonus, much of the bidding revolves around investigating the possibility of making game. Additional bonuses are awarded for bidding and making small slam (Level 6, i.e. 12 tricks) and grand slam (Level 7, i.e. all 13 tricks) contracts.
| Level of Bid | Bonus Points Awarded for Bid and Made Contracts |
|---|---|
| Part game in the Minor suits | 50 points; plus 20 points for every trick won (after the 6th trick won) |
| Part game in the Major suits | 50 points; plus 30 points for every trick won (after the 6th trick won) |
| Part Game in No Trumps | 60 points; plus 30 points for every trick won (after the 6th trick won) |
| Game in a Minor suit | 400 points; plus 20 points for every trick won (after the 11th trick won) |
| Game in a Major suit | 420 points; plus 30 points for every trick won (after the 10th trick won) |
| Game in No Trumps | 400 points plus 30 points for every trick won (after the 9th trick won) |
| Small Slam in a Minor suit | 920 points; plus 20 points for extra trick won (after the 12th trick) |
| Small Slam in a Major suit | 980 points; plus 30 points for extra trick won (after the 12th trick) |
| Small Slam in No Trumps | 990 points; plus 30 points for extra trick won (after the 12th trick) |
| Grand Slam in a Minor suit | 1440 points |
| Grand Slam in a Major suit | 1510 points |
| Grand Slam in No Trumps | 1520 points |
Instant Progress Quiz - Check the correct answer
Extra for Experts
A different game on the same subject as this lesson, with questions for community discussion in the comments area below.
PLAY