KISS 4: Do Not Save by Default

Sacrificing or "saving" is the word we use when we bid over our opponents game or slam, with the expectation to go down. 

The main message I want to get across in this article is to encourage the reader to almost never save. Its mostly losing bridge, except in extreme cases. When in doubt don't save, and even then, don't save.

Lets start off with some of the reasons for and against. 

1. Vulnerability is one of the major factors. The fertile time to save is when we are "favourable" which means we aren't vulnerable and the opponents are vulnerable. Conversely, when we are vulnerable it should generally be out of the question. 
2. Big trump fits - In order to save we should have very significant trump fits. It should not be a thought with 8 trumps. 
3. Double fits - When we have fits in two suits, for example
4. Distributional -  Generally we should be distributional or very distributional to consider acting. Voids, 6-5 shape, etc. 

Lets look at some examples.

Do not even think about it. You are extremely balanced (6322 is balanced in this context), you are vulnerable. Saving at this vulnerability should not even be a consideration, only bid if you think you will make it. (You won't make it unless partner has an extreme hand. Remember, bid your hand, not your partners - if they have an extreme hand they may double or do something after you pass).

Again don't think about putting your foot on the 5 level, despite your 11 card fit. Are you bidding to make it? Your hand looks too soft to make it, its very unlikely opposite a normal preempt. Are you bidding to save? Don't. Anyway, there is a good chance the opponents are going down, you may have 3-4 tricks in your hand on a good day. Just pass, hope for one of those beautiful positive scores (+100), don't set yourself up for a -500 or -800.

This is a tougher choice, and many people would bid on. They would see the singleton spade. I don't think its a good idea. Your hand is not exceptional, you have a boring 6331 which you have already bid, and the vulnerability is not particularly attractive.

Don't save, just take a deep breathe and pass. There's a good chance that you may beat this contract anyway, be ambitious and go for the plus score. Bidding on will almost certainly result in a doubled contract down 2 or more. 

Lets make some small adjustments to the previous hand, which make a significant difference.

I would bid on with this hand. The shape is now starting to look good 0-4-7-2. You also have excellent trump texture, and very little defence. Theres a chance that you might actually make 5♦, which is generally one of the indiciations that bidding on may be a good idea. There is one problem to it all, if the opponents have an 8 card spade fit, which is possible, your partner may have 5 spades, which may mean that the contract of 4♠  was in trouble. Nevertheless, it would be a bit too meek to pass this hand.  

This is another time where bidding on is a good idea.

Your partner's 2NT bid was the "unusual" no trump, showing at least 5+ in both of the two lowest unbid suits (LUBS), which in this case his clubs and diamonds. Lets look at the factors in favour of bidding here.

a) The vulnerability - perfect for the occasion.

b) Big double fit.

c) While you are not particularly distributional, you do have a useful singleton. In the context that is okay, because you know your partner has a highly distributional hand as well. 

Overall, I think this is an area where intermediate players are majorly lacking. They are far too inclined to bid on, under the wrong conditions. Overall, it is very good advice to think twice about saving, and then don't do it. It will improve your scores and make you a much more difficult opponent. 

Where to next

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