Avoiding Phantom Sacrifices
A sacrifice against a contract that was going down turns a plus score into a minus. Count your defensive tricks before you bid.
A phantom sacrifice is one taken against a contract that would have gone down. Instead of a plus score, you collect a minus. It is one of the most expensive mistakes in competitive bidding.
Count your defence
Before sacrificing, estimate how many tricks your side will take on defence:
Aces and kings in side suits usually win tricks.
Queens and jacks in their suits may also score.
Length in their trump suit can be awkward for declarer.
If you can see three tricks against their game, a fourth from partner is quite possible. Defend.
Warning signs
You hold length or honours in their trumps. Bad trump breaks beat contracts.
Your values are defensive. Aces and kings rather than long suits and shortages.
They have bid to the limit, not freely. A reluctant auction suggests few spare values.
Partner has shown defence, for example by doubling or opening the bidding.
Signs a sacrifice is right
Big fit (ten cards or more) and shortage in their suits.
Little defence: your values are in your long suit.
They bid game confidently and seem to have extra values.
Favourable vulnerability.
Let partner help
If you have bid your suit and the opponents reach game, a pass from you in a forcing situation, or a double, can tell partner you have defence. Agree such methods with partner.
Key takeaways
Sacrifice only when you expect their contract to make.
Count defensive tricks first.
Trump length or honours in their suit point towards defending.