X — Scoring and Score-Sheets — Auction of To-day by Milton C. Work

X Scoring and Score-Sheets

The score is a very important incident of the game of Auction, and to keep it properly requires considerable care and skill.

The figures frequently run into high numbers on both sides, and when the rubber continues during three hotly contested games, they become quite voluminous.

The score-sheet should be left on the table, and the writing on it should be of such size that it can be seen at a glance. This saves time and trouble, as it relieves the players from the necessity of asking the state of the score.

In some clubs two scores are kept, so that, in the only too probable contingency of a mistake being made, it may invariably be detected. This, however, is unnecessary, and at times confusing. The extra sheet is also apt to prove annoying, because of the space it occupies upon the table. One score is quite sufficient, if it be competently kept, and each entry, as well as the additions, verified.

There are two totally different types of Auction score-sheets. The one which is used in perhaps ninety per cent. of the private games, and, strange as it may seem, in many clubs, has absolutely no excuse for its existence, except that it was the first to be introduced and has the reputation of being universally used in foreign countries. It requires scoring above and below the line, which is a most cumbersome and dilatory proposition. Keeping tally by this method involves, at the end of a rubber, long mathematical problems, which, as the scorer is then in a hurry, frequently result in serious, and at times undiscovered, mistakes.

The modern system adopted in the up-to-date clubs, in which the game has received its most scientific development, and in the highest class of social games, does away with the antiquated methods and exacting mathematical problems of the above- and below-the-line system, by using a form of score-sheet which allows and encourages the scorer to mentally compute simple sums during the progress of the rubber. By the elimination of complicated figuring, it minimizes the opportunity for mistake, and delay at the end of the rubber.

All players are doubtless familiar with the old system of above-and below-the-line scoring, but only three classes now use it:

A. Those who have never had the modern system and its advantages called to their attention.

B. Those who believe that, having once become accustomed to any method, it should never be changed for a better.

C. Those who believe that, because foreign clubs adopt a certain method, we should do the same.

It is probably wasting time to attempt to convert any representative of either B or C, and fortunately for the intelligence of American card players there are comparatively few who deserve to be included in either of these classifications.

Class A, however, comprises the vast majority of Auction players, who have either never had the modern system of scoring called to their attention, or, if they have seen it, have not thoroughly grasped its numerous advantages, and have continued the old method merely because they were more familiar with it and did not perfectly understand the new. It is not putting the matter too strongly to assert that every intelligent scorer, who gives the new plan a thorough test, never returns to the trials and vexations incident to keeping the tally above and below the line.

Sample sheets are appended, showing the up-to-date scoring-blank as it appears at the beginning of the rubber; the same sheet with a rubber scored, the net totals being computed at the end of each game; and also with the same rubber scored, the net totals being computed at the end of each deal. One scorer will prefer to make up his totals at the end of a game, another will elect to compute them at the termination of each deal; but either way the advantages of the score-sheet are apparent.

It goes without saying that any system which allows a player to see at a glance, not only the score of the game, but also the exact status of the rubber, is more advantageous than one which, until some time after the rubber is completed, may leave him in the dark as to whether he is ahead or behind. Some players allow, whether they or their opponents are in the lead upon the total score of the rubber, to affect their declarations and doubles. This practice cannot be enthusiastically commended, but all must admit that for such players the new scoring system is most essential.

It is, however, mainly as a labor- and time-saving device that the new plan is advocated. If any one doubt, let him keep the score of any rubber under the old method while the same rubber is being scored by some one familiar with the advantages of the new. The result is sure to be most convincing. Under the new method, the short sums in addition or subtraction are mentally computed, during the deal of the cards, etc. This occupies waste time only, and at the end of the rubber, leaves a very simple, frequently nothing more than a mental, problem.

It has been estimated that during an evening’s play, at least one more rubber can be completed when the scoring is conducted under the new method.

The various score-sheets, all showing the same rubber, follow.

SAMPLE OF THE NEW SCORE-SHEET WITHOUT ANY ENTRY

OUR SCORE			OPPONENTS’ SCORE
TRICKS	HONORS	TOTALS	TOTALS	TRICKS	HONORS

SAMPLE OF NEW FORM OF SCORE-SHEET SHOWING A RUBBER SCORED WITH NET TOTALS COMPUTED AT END OF EACH GAME

OUR SCORE			OPPONENTS’ SCORE
TRICKS	HONORS	TOTALS	TOTALS	TRICKS	HONORS
16	32			18	72
	100				30
60	60	268	120
		(148)
	216	266		27	18
20	30	414	145	48	52
		(269)			200
	64	249			100
	36	518	356	24	32
21	56
36	36
		(162)
		250
		412

The score included in the circle is the net total at the end of each game. It is obtained by subtracting the smaller score from the larger; as, for example, in the first game above, 120 from 268, which leaves a net of 148. If a scorer find it more satisfactory to subtract when the figures are in line, he can always write the smaller amount under the larger; as, for example, the 120 under the 268.

SAMPLE OF NEW FORM OF SCORE-SHEET SHOWING SAME RUBBER SCORED WITH NET TOTALS COMPUTED AT END OF EACH DEAL

OUR SCORE			OPPONENTS’ SCORE
TRICKS	HONORS	TOTALS	TOTALS	TRICKS	HONORS
16	32	48
			42	18	72
	100	28			30
60	60	148
		103		27	18
	216	319
20	30	369
		269		48	52
	64	133			200
	36	69			100
		13		24	32
21	56	90
36	36	162
		250
		412

All figures under the head of totals are net, and show at the end of each deal the exact status of the rubber. It is also possible, when the above method is employed, to further reduce the amount of bookkeeping by making only one entry whenever one pair scores honors and the other a penalty. This method could have been employed above, deal 3 of game 1, by merely entering 70 under “Our Score” Honors, and also in deal 2 of game 3, by entering 64 under “Opponents’ Score” Honors.

SAMPLE SHOWING SAME RUBBER SCORED UNDER OLD SYSTEM WITH LONG ADDITIONS AND SUBTRACTION AT END OF RUBBER

WE	THEY
36
56
36	32
64	100
30	200
216	52
60	18
100	30
32	72
16	18
60	18
20	27
20	48
21	24
36	621
250
1033
621
412

THE SCORE OF THE RUBBERS IS BEST KEPT ON A SHEET OF THE FOLLOWING CHARACTER

SCORE BY RUBBERS
NAMES	+	-	+	-	+	-	+	-	+	-	+	-
TOTAL

THE FOLLOWING SHOWS HOW THIS SCORE SHOULD BE KEPT

SCORE BY RUBBERS
NAMES	+	-	+	-	+	-	+	-	+	-	+	-
Smith	2		2			2		3		3		2
Jones		2		2		6		5		5		6
Brown	2		5		5		4		6		6
White		2	1		1		1		X	X	X	X
Green				3	1		1		3		4
King				3	1		1		3		4
TOTAL	4	4	8	8	8	8	8	8	9	9	10	10

It is always well to total at the end of each rubber and to note the size of the rubber. These precautions make it easy to correct mistakes, should any occur.

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