Non-vulnerable undertricks just cost 50 points each, so if you avoid being doubled, two down will often get you a great score: -100 leaves you better off than most of the part-scores that your opponents could make, -110 for two hearts or two spades for example.
It is very important to get into the habit of competing for the part-score aggressively, especially when the auction dies at the two level. Here you are South with nobody vulnerable:
 7 6 2 Q 10 9 6 5 8 6 A 8 5 |
The auction starts:
| West 1 2 |
North Pass Pass |
East 1 2 Pass |
South Pass Pass ? |
With just 6 points, surely you cannot consider a call, you might think. But where are all the points?
If the opponents cannot make game, partner must have at least 11 or 12 points; he hasn’t made a bid because…[ilink url=»http://www.mrbridge.co.uk/newsletters.php?issue=1″]Click here[/ilink] to continue reading