To be successful at duplicate (match point) bridge, you must pursue part-score contracts aggressively.  Here is an illustration from a deal played at the 1991 Nationals in Indianapolis.

 

NORTH
ª 8 3 2  
© A J 9 8 3
¨ K 10 8 2
§ 7

 

SOUTH
ª A 10 5 4  
© K 7 6 2
¨ A 5
§ 10 4 3

 

WEST        NORTH        EAST        SOUTH
                                       P               P
1¨               P                 1NT            P
2§               P                 P                Dbl
P                 3©

 

South had 11 high-card points and his partner 8, just 19 in total.  Both North and South passed two rounds of bidding.  When East passed his partner’s 2§ call it was apparent that E-W had minimums and good minors. 

 

South, being fairly certain at this point that his side had a 4-4 major fit and close to half of the high-card points, made a balancing double in the pass-out seat and North jumped to 3© to show a good suit and considerable values.  

 

In the play, North lost two spades, one heart and one club, thus making the contract.  (E-W could have taken nine tricks in a club contract.)

 

In rubber bridge this partial game would be useful but not a major event.  However in this duplicate contest, N-S earned an above average 6.5 match points, whereas had they not competed, their result have been a bottom board of 0.5 match points.

 

The purpose of this deal is to illustrate how important it is in duplicate to compete for part scores.  Of course when you enter the bidding lite, you should have some assurance that your side has a playable strain - that  is either you have a good suit or reasonable prospects of a good fit.