Pushing to Game at Pairs and at Teams
At teams, a vulnerable game needs to make only about 40% of the time to be worth bidding. At pairs, aim to do what wins most often.
How aggressively you bid game should depend on the form of scoring. The same hand can be a clear game bid at teams and a sensible part-score at pairs.
Teams: the bonus is big
Suppose you can choose between 3♥ and 4♥, and nine tricks are certain. Here is the score at teams when vulnerable:
Bid 4♥ and make it: +620, against +170 for stopping in 3♥. You gain 450 points, which is 10 IMPs.
Bid 4♥ and go one down: -100, against +140 in 3♥. You lose 240 points, which is 6 IMPs.
You risk 6 IMPs to win 10. That makes the game worth bidding if it succeeds about 40% of the time or more. Not vulnerable the gain is 6 IMPs and the loss 5, so you need closer to an even chance.
Pairs: winning often matters
At pairs every board is scored by comparing with the other tables. A 40% game that goes down gives you a bad score 60% of the time. Bid games that you expect to make more often than not, and think about what the rest of the room will do. If everyone will be in game, staying out is a gamble too.
Practical guidelines
Teams, vulnerable: stretch. Accept invitations with a decent minimum and a good fit.
Teams, not vulnerable: bid games that are close to an even chance.
Pairs: bid the games that are better than even, and use judgement about the field.
Key takeaways
At teams, a vulnerable game is worth bidding at roughly 40%.
At pairs, aim to be right more often than not.
Know the form of scoring before you make a close game decision.