Balancing refers to reopening the bidding with a bid or double when the opposing pair have stopped at a low level.  (In England they call this action “protection”.)  This is an action in the close-out seat where, if you pass the bidding ends, while any other action produces another round of bidding.  In balancing, you are competing for part-score which is a big thing in duplicate but of minor consequence in rubber bridge.  When you balance with a double, it is for takeout, not penalty.

 

Some of you may recall that in the July Snaps, I wrote: “To be successful at duplicate (match point) bridge, you must pursue part-score contracts aggressively.  Here is an illustration from the 1995 Baltimore Regional Tournament.  You are North holding:
 

ª Q 6 4 2
© Q 3 
¨ A Q 5
§ 10 7 5 4
 

And the bidding  . .
WEST       NORTH       EAST       SOUTH
                                                   pass
1 heart       pass          2 hearts     pass
pass           ??
 

E-W must be near minimums to stop so abruptly, so they have some 19 to 22 points, thus your side has nearly half of the points.  If you pass the bidding will end.  Your distribution is reasonably good for a takeout and the odds good for finding an eight-card fit in one of the unbid suits.  If you pass, the opponents will likely take eight tricks in hearts, minus 110 for you.  If you double, partner will bid three clubs; if allowed to play there, partner should take seven tricks for down two and minus 100 points.  (If partner doesn’t take seven tricks, be thankful you didn't have to play it!)

 

In the actual tournament, minus 100 would have earned you 9 match points, while minus 110 would have earned you 7 match points.  Even better, at some tables the balancing action pushed East-West to three hearts, which goes down two with good defense.  In this scenario, plus 100 for setting E-W would have earned you 11 match points.