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Vulnerable or Not-Vulnerable
Vulnerability is a system of varying the scoring in a bridge game and with each hand in
duplicate bridge the North-South partnership and the East-West partnership are designated as either vulnerable
or not vulnerable and this is assigned by a label on the bridge board or on the bidding pad (in computer bridge)
Being vulnerable increases bonuses when you make a contract and conversely increases the penalties for
going light in your contract. Vulnerability also affects strategies for a partnership bidding and
play. Partnerships tend to be more cautious when they are Vulnerable and take more risks when they are
not-vulnerable
Being vulnerable (vul) and going light earns your opponents double the points so they earn +100 points (which means -100 for your side).
Partnerships should be careful about overbidding when vulnerable and they can take more risks when they are not-vulnerable.
If you are vulnerable (vul) and bid and make "game" you will be awarded a bonus of 450 points as well as additional points for all the tricks you won.
Down 2 = -100 points
Down 3 = -150 points
Down 4 = -200 points
Down 2 = -200 points
Down 3 = -300 points
Down 4 = -400 points
For each doubled overtrick, non vulnerable = 100 points
For each doubled overtrick, vulnerable = 200 points
Exercise: Play the game and see how the vulnerability affects the scores awarded.
Vulnerability:
Going Light Contract (undertricks)
If your contract goes down 1 trick (known as going light) and you are not-vulnerable (not vul) your opponents earn 50 points per trick that you are taken light.Being vulnerable (vul) and going light earns your opponents double the points so they earn +100 points (which means -100 for your side).
Partnerships should be careful about overbidding when vulnerable and they can take more risks when they are not-vulnerable.
Bidding & Making your contract
If you are not vulnerable (not vul) and bid and make "game" contract you will score a bonus of 250 points as well as the extra points for each trick won.If you are vulnerable (vul) and bid and make "game" you will be awarded a bonus of 450 points as well as additional points for all the tricks you won.
Non-Vulnerable (not-vul) Under tricks penalties:
Down 1 = -50 pointsDown 2 = -100 points
Down 3 = -150 points
Down 4 = -200 points
Vulnerable (vul) Under tricks penalty
Down 1 = -100 pointsDown 2 = -200 points
Down 3 = -300 points
Down 4 = -400 points
Doubling
Doubling adds extra bonuses or penalties whether you are vulnerable or not, the difference is the amount of points you or the opposition are awarded.You are doubled for penalties and you make your contract with overtricks!
Sometimes the partnership doubling for penalties gets it all wrong and the declarer not only makes the contract they make it with overtricks. For these overtricks when doubled massive amounts of bonus points are earned.For each doubled overtrick, non vulnerable = 100 points
For each doubled overtrick, vulnerable = 200 points
How to determine which pair/s are Vulnerable or Not Vulnerable
West, North, East and South are all Vulnerable (red )
All positions are Not-Vulnerable (grey)
North & South are Vulnerable; East & West are Non-Vulnerable
West & East are Vulnerable; North & South are Non-Vulnerable
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