- The purpose of the bridge innovations published here is to make anyone a Bidding Expert in 3 days. You do not even suspect how fundamental are these ForcePoint's innovations !
                 You may even continue to use your own system, simply implying some of the innovations, although with ForcePoint's 1NT/1 natural system you may have a great success.
   The ForcePoint Counting provides a minimum of 70% contract assurances for Matchpoints scoring games with 12 TOP (that's about 8.4 points a game on any Bidding Contest). The one only convention used SCOR-SCOR supply the exact partner's shape usually below 3NT and allow to you to apply the correct PL's Adjustments. The Control Point Asking (CPA) may start even on 3 Level and will reveal the exact number of the partner's Aces, Kings, the contract tricks even the number of the Queens with 1 only question!  With the huge bidding space still remaining you can use SCOR again to discover where the partner's TOP Honors are. No one needs more information to place the best possible contracts surprisingly becoming an Expert Bidder by the knowledges obtained for 24 hours only !
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The Playing is your own responsibility !

        Awards/penalties Fp Team Players 2012's TM changes (in Lv):

 1. Winning: Every paid player award = IMPs won * Personal PQ / TOP Player PQ
                 Every non-paid player award = 1/4 IMPs won * Personal PQ / TOP Player PQ
 2. Losing: Every paid player penalty = 1/4 IMPs lost * TOP Player PQ / Personal PQ * Player's Personal Mistakes / All 4 Players mistakes
               Every non-paid player's penalty = 0 despite of IMPs lost
   Bridge for FUN

Velina & Kosta Kostov
   Most of the bridge players, especially the women, prefer to play bridge for fun instead to become slaves to it. Here they will find how to evaluate a bridge hand for less than 10 sec using Force Point Simplified Counting. Check the Velina's Counting for Ladies where the Queen decide it all. It is highly aggressive, relaying on the fact that usually the opponents will not be able to perform a "Double Dummy" defense.
Force Point Counting - a new explicit Law of the Total Tricks:

1. You may count directly your Total tricks and using them to find your Base Number (B#) which represents your contract tricks. The sum of both partners B#s will supply to you the game's Play Level (PL) for the FIT suit. The NT PL is always 1 below than the suit's PL if you do not have any 5 by 3/4 or 6 by 2/3 FIT (4 by 4 FITs won't help you), but both PL, the suit PL and the NT PL are equal, if you have such FITs !

Singleton Ace = 2.0 contract tricks
Singleton King = 1.0 contract trick
Any other Singleton = 0.5 contract tricks (re-count it for 1.5 when one of the opponents bid the suit)
Void = 1.0 contract tricks (re-count it for 1.5 when one of the opponents bid the suit)

Ace = 1.5 contract tricks
King = 1.0 contract trick
Queen = 0.5 contract tricks
3 or 4 Jacks = 0.5 contract tricks
For Ax  add  0.5 contract tricks (for a total of 2.0 along with the Ace's count), where x can not be a King nor a Queen
For a long 7+ card suit with 2 Honors add 0.5 for any card over the 6th one. The Formula is: 0.5*(n - 6), where n is the number of the cards in the long suit

For  a  6+/5+  bi-color  add  1.0 contract tricks

2. If you have a balanced hand with more Aces than Kings and you do not have any Queens, subtract 0.5 contract tricks !
NOTE: Add all from above to receive your Total Tricks

Your B# (contract tricks) = Total tricks (from above) minus 2 (before performing any Adjustments)
NOTE: On practice, instead of subtracting 2.0 on the end it will be better to do that in front. Just find cards which valued 2.0 and do not count them, count only the rest. For example, when you see A + Q or 2 Kings or Singleton Ace or Ace + Singleton, do not count that combination, count the rest. That way you will find your B# faster and error free !
Your PL (for the FIT suit) = sum of both partners B#s (before the Adjustments)

NOTE: If you do not have any 5 by 3/4 or 6 by 2/3 FIT, your NT PL is always 1.0 contract tricks lower than the suit's PL. When you have such FIT(s) your NT PL = your suit's PL !
Remember: When you have discovered a minimum NT PL = 3.0 (after the Adjustments), you have 100% 3NT contract, no need to check for Stoppers at all !

Adjustments for suit contracts (if you are able to discover or imagine them):
For 9 Trumps in both hands upgrade your B# (respectively your PL) with 0.5 contract tricks, for 10+ Trumps in both hands upgrade your B# (respectively your PL) with 1.0 contract tricks
For a 2nd Misfit with 3 TOP Honors upgrade your B# (respectively your PL) with 0.5 contract tricks, but for a 2nd FIT with 3 TOP Honors upgrade your B# (respectively your PL) with 1.0 contract trick
For a "good" Singleton upgrade your B# (respectively your PL) with 0.5 contract tricks
For a "good" Void upgrade your B# (respectively your PL) with 1.0 contract tricks

Adjustments for NT contracts:
For any Doubleton suit subtract 0.5
For any Singleton subtract 1.0
For any Void subtract 1.5
For any 5 by 2 Misfit add 0.5

Control Points (CP):
- When your partner asks you for your Controls, count and show both kind of CP, the real (Aces + Kings) and the pseudo (Singletons and Voids):
Ace = 6 CP,  King = 4 CP,  Void = 6 CP,  Singleton = 4 CP

- With PL > = 6 and 32 to 38 CP (or 30 to 38 CP if you have 2 good FITs)  you have a Small Slam
- With PL >= 7 and 40+ CP (or 36+ CP if you have 2 good FITs)  you have a Grand Slam
  Both requirements, the PL and the CP, are mandatory, but you may try Small Slam in suit even with PL = 5.5 and not knowing partner's CP if your playing is good !

NOTE: Ask your team manager about Control Points Asking (CPA) and how to show your real CP in conjunction with your previously shown B#. You will learn how to use CPA to discover the exact number of all partner's Controls with one Question one Answer only!

Definition Notes:
- Balanced hand:  a hand without any 5+ card suit or a Singleton
- Contract tricks: the tricks over the initial 6 tricks which you do not count in the game of bridge
-"Good" Singleton:  a Singleton in the opponents confirmed suit or a Singleton opposite the Ace without any other TOP Honors in less than 4 card suit = +0.5
-"Good" Void:  a Void in the opponents suit or a Void in an empty of Controls suit = +1.0

- You probably remember that the game's Play Level (PL) is the sum of both partners' B#s if you have a FIT suit, or 1 below for NT contract if you do not have any 5 by 3/4 or 6 by 2/3 FIT. Any other kind of FIT will not help you, and your NT PL always will be 1.0 level below than your suit's PL. And because your Control Points (CP) are already included in the count, in most cases when you want yo play a Slam, you may not even ask for key cards, simply use the game's Play Level (PL) or a Small Slam (for a Grand Slam you will do better if you check the key cards). Both requirements, the necessary PL and the CP, must be fulfilled for a successful Slam !
NOTE: The elementary natural system below is like SAYC, except for 1DI opening and the responses after 2CL

3. Openings
- Open 1CL with B# = 2.0 to 4.5  and  2+ card CL suit when you do not have any other 5+ card suit.
- Open (overcall) 1DI with B# = 2.0 to 4.5  and  5+ card DI suit when you do not have a Major 5+ card suit. You may show your 4 card DI suit on 2nd level if necessary
- Open (overcall) 1HE with B# = 2.0 to 4.5  and  5+ card HE suit when you do not have 5+ card SP suit
- Open (overcall) 1SP with B# = 2.0 to 4.5  and  5+ card SP suit

- Open 1NT with B# = 2.5 to 4.0 with a balanced hand or with 14-18 HCP (use DBL to overcall with a balanced hand)
   The responses after 1NT opening are:
    - Transfers with max B# = 0.5
    - Stayman with B# >= 1.0
    - 2SP will be Transfer to Minor if you have 6+ card Minor suit. Bid directly 3 in Minor with B# >= 1.0 but only if you have at least one of the 3 TOP Honors in your 6+ card Minor suit
    - 2NT without 4 card Major suit and 8-10 clasical HCP

- Open 2DI with B# >= 3.0 with any 4441 or any 5440 (Mini-Roman). The responses in suit are weak, but 2NT is with B# >= 1.0 and asks for suit next over the Singleton/Void
- Open weak two or three (or JUMP overcall) with any 6+ card suit with B# = 1.0 to 1.5 non-vulnerable or B# = 1.5 vulnerable)
- Open 2NT with exact B# = 4.5 and  a balanced hand (you will have 19-22 HCP probably)

- For a strong 2CL opening you will need B# >= 5.0. Your partner will use the waiting 2DI bid only if  s/he has B# < 0.0  or  B# >= 1.0, so with B# = 0.0 to 0.5 s/he will make a free bid in his/her 5+ card suit or in NT (when s/he doesn't have any 5+ card suit). When your partner has used 2DI waiting bid, and after your natural response, your partner will use a Relay bid to show to you that s/he has B# >= 1.0 or will make a free natural bid to show to you that s/he has B# < 0.0
NOTE: Remember that the most important thing is always to update the sum of both partners B# which will secure your game's Play Level (PL) !

- For 4HE/4SP openings you will need B# = 3.0 to 4.0  and  7+ good  or  8+ any cards in the Major suit.
- With bi-colors, open in your longer suit even if it is a Minor suit, then repeat 2 times your other bi-color suit. If the bi-color suits are with equal length, open in your higher suit.
- If you have an unbalanced hand with B# = 4.0 to 4.5, but can not open 2CL, on the 2nd round of the Bidding, simply JUMP or cue-bid to show your strong hand.
NOTE: By principle, you open with B# >= 2.0, but if you decide you may open with B#>= 1.5. By principle the Overcals in 2nd sit are made with B# >= 2.0, but after partner's Pass make the Overcalls with B#>=1.5. If you decide, you may make all overcalls with B# >= 1.5, just talk with your partner.

4. Responding and Asking for the exact B#

- When you FIT your partner, just add both known Base Numbers (B#) and jump to the PL in the FIT suit (or in NT, if you prefer that). If your partner has higher B# than you expect, he/she may raise or ask for Controls by RKCB or CPA (ForcePoint's Control Points Asking, which by the way is much, much better than RKCB). I suggest you always use 4th suit GF bid or a jump or a non-jump 4CL bid (even if your FIT is in CL suit) for simultaneously showing a FIT and asking your partner for the exact B#, thus becoming a Quest. An answer of the closest bid (1st step) will be for a minimum B# already shown through the bidding, and any further step will add 0.5 to it. Be aware that 4HE/4SP bids by the Quest will be an Absolute Signoff, but the Quest may use 4NT bid to ask his/her partner for the exact CP when s/he had discovered PL >= 5.5, then a Relay for the Controls' suits. In the cases when 4CL can not be used because of opponents interference, the Quest may use 4NT to ask the partner for the exact B#, then s/he may use Relays for the CP and eventually for the Controls' suits.

5. How to discover the partner's B# (contract tricks):

Important: When you bid in a new suit, your partner will discover your B# by the level on which you make your bid:
- with a bid in a new suit on 1st Level or a jump in Major suit on 2nd Level, you will show B# >= 0.0
- with a bid in a new suit on 2nd Level (except for a jump bid) you will show B# >= 1.0
- with a bid in a new suit on 3rd Level (except for a jump bid or for 2nd new suit) you will show B# >= 2.0
In general: When you bid a new suit your temporally B# (except for a jump bid or for 2nd new suit) = the Level you bid minus 1
NOTE: When you bid 2nd new suit on 3rd Level, that bid may be forced if no fit was still discovered, so your partner must not grand automatically B# = 2.0 to you. With B# = 2.0 you usually will bid directly 3NT for invitational Signoff or will use 4CL bid to ask your partner for the exact B#, so your B# was already shown when you bid your 1st new suit on lower level !

-When you FIT your partner your B# is not important for him/her, because you simply will raise to the level equal to the sum of both B#, i.e. you will show directly the game's PL by your vision using the     minimum partner's B# known by the opening. If your partner has higher B# s/he may raise the suit. By principle when you FIT your partner, your B# may be discovered by the level you fit your partner:
- when you FIT your partner on 2nd Level you will show B# = 0.0 to 0.5
- when you FIT your partner on 3rd Level you will show B# = 1.0 to 1.5
- when you FIT your partner on 4th Level you will show B# = 2.0 to 2.5, t.e. in general: Your B# (when you fit your partner) = The Level you fit your partner minus 2, eventually + 0.5

- That way both of you always will know the guaranteed minimum game's Play Level (PL). If you have a Trump Super FIT of  9+ cards raise your PL with 0.5, if you have 10+ Trump cards raise your PL with 1.0. For a Trump Misfit of  7 cards without at least 3 of the 4 Honors your PL usually will go 1.0 Down.

That's all. Have fun with Fp's FUN Bridge and don't forget one thing:  The simple bridge arithmetic is very precision and highly effective !
The game below (8/3/2006) was bid by Benito Garozzo and his late regular partner at BBO Partnership Table with over 70 kibitzer watching. The opponents hands weren't s shown. Recently I have downloaded the Gorozzo's system, it is over 150 pages long, which surprised me! The previous 15 contracts were perfect, and this one was 6DI by North.


 - Do you know that you may use one only universal Formula to discover your B# (Contract Tricks) !

B# = (CP - 8 + 2*Equivalent Queens)/4 ,where CP are only the real Controls (Aces +Kings)
Let's check it:

- North's B# = (CP - 8 + 2*0)/4 = (16 - 8)/4 = B2, and he will open the Bidding with 1DI. South's B# = (CP - 8 + 2*2)/4 = (16 - 4)/4 = B3, and after the opening bid of 1DI s/he will discover immediately that the game's minimum PL = b2 + b3 + 1.0 = 6 after upgrading the B# 1.0 Up for the 10 Trumps card. A simple response of 1HE will show a 4+ card HE suit, and North will rebid 1SP showing 4 card SP suit. With min PL = 6, South may bid the 4th suit Forcing to ask the partner for the exact B# (answers are by steps with 0.5 increment), or bid 4NT to ask for North's key cards (by RKCB) or CP (by CPA), or directly jump to 6DI.
- Compare the Fp bids with the simplified Fun Counting, which will provide to you the most necessary information about your partner's hand at very low level:
N: 1DI = B2+, 5+ card suit
S: 1HE = B(0+), 4+ card HE suit
N: 1SP = 4 card SP suit
S: 2CL = 4th suit GF (game forcing) asking for partner's exact B#
N: 2DI = B2 only
S: 2HE = CPA (Control Points Asking) for the exact partner's Controls
N: 3DI = 16 CP (2A +K), no Queens (ask your Team Manager how you may discover that with 1 only question - answer !)
S: 3HE = Relay asking for the King's suit
N: 3NT = King HE
S: 6DI with PL = B3 + B2 + 1.0  for 10 Trump cards = 6.0 and 32 CP. So South knows it is a finesse Slam !
              Simple and fun, isn't it !
. 		- If you do not use 4th suit GF for asking of the exact partner's B#:
N: 1DI = B2+, 5+ card suit
S: 1HE = B(0+), 4+ card HE suit
N: 1SP = 4 card SP suit
S: 4CL = Asking Relay for partner's exact B#
N: 4DI = B2 only
S: 4NT = CPA (Control Points Asking) for the exact partner's Controls
N: 5SP = 16 CP (2A + K), no Queens
S: 6DI with PL = B3 + B2 + 1.0  for 10 Trump cards = 6.0 and 32 CP !


If you decide to buy the program use this link to download it.
.
If you are interesting of 1NT/1 natural system, first download and install the file "Install Fp Counting.exe", then download directly to your new C:\ForcePoint folder the updated files:
1. The free Demo program which will count to you, so you may check pairs Play Level for the different games. It is free of charge.
2. The file "1NT over 1.snf" and run Sysnotes program. Upon your payment, provide your 8 digits/letters computer fingerprint code located above the registration field by email to ForcePoint@bullbridge.com to receive your key for activating the program.
   2DI waiting (after 2CL)

After downloading and installing the ForcePoint Counting program , use this link to go to the owner server and download the free playing file gib.exe, then paste the file inside your new C:\ForcePoint folder. Find inside your new folder C:\ForcePoint the text file Register_Me.txt, and read the instruction for activating the GIB playing engine.

A game from the Rosenblum Cup, Verona, Italy, 2006
- By simplified Fp Formula, which may be used with any system, the Base Numbers (B#, the contract tricks) of the players are:

East (Rodwell)'s B# = (CP - 8 + 2*0)/4 = (4 - 8)/4 = B(-1) contract tricks

South (Helness)'s B# = (CP - 8 + 2*2) = (16 - 4)/4 = B3 contract tricks

West (Meckstroth)'s B# = (CP - 8 + 2*2) = (16 - 4)/4 = B3 contract tricks

North (Helgemo)'s B# = (CP - 8 + 2*2)/4 = (4 - 4)/4 = B(0) contract tricks

EW  PL = B(-1) + B3 + 0.5 (for 9  Trumps) + 1.0 (for "good' Void) = 2.5 ~ 2.0

NS PL = B3 + B(0) + 0.5 (for 9  Trumps) = 3.5 ~ 3.0

Note: The players' base Numbers showed on diagram were extracted using the original Fp Counting.The Bidding shown for both pair is by Fp rules. Below you may see the original Bidding and compare the bids:

- You see the real Bidding (let's compare the Bidding):
E: Pass = less than B2
S: 1DI = B2 to B4, actually B3,  4+ card DI suit
W: 2CL = B2 to B4, actually B3,  5+ card CL suit
N: X = B(0), negative double showing shortness in CL
E: Pass = less than B(0)
S: 3SP = JUMP with B3 in 4 card suit
W: Pass = with max projected Play Level (PL) of  B3 + B(-1) + 1.0 (for the "good" Void SP after opps bid the suit) = 3.0 and unfavorable vulnerability, there is no much to bid, although with opposite vulnerability West can bid directly 4HE (difference)
N: 4SP = Sign-off with PL = B3 + B(0) + 0.5 (for 9 Trumps card suit) = 3.5

- How you may see, The Masters did no better than the funny Counting will do with any system. 1NT/1 system will reach 4HE contract, and after 4SP will penalize NS using the Penalty Rule of 13.
.
The best Bulgarian voice: Nevena Tzoneva

Use this link if you want to buy a 3 years license for using 1NT/1 system on official Tournaments
Install_Fp_Counting_.exe
Download and Unzip the FREE Demo Fp_Counting program, then paste it inside your new C:/ForcePoint folder overwriting the old file from the installation

Below is a Fp Super simple Counting you may prefer to use (it also isn't enough explicit but some players may prefer it) :

Find your B# (your contract tricks) using the Formula below:

B# = (CP - 8 + 2*Equivalent Queens)/4, where CP are only the real Controls (Aces +Kings)

By details:
B# = (CP - 4)/4 if you have 2 equivalent Queens
B# = (CP - 6)/4 if you have one equivalent Queen
B# = (CP - 8)/4 if you do not have any equivalent Queens

Note: The Adjustments are the same

The fun part

The success key? Marketing Bridge! It is not too difficult if you find the right people to do the job. ForcePoint Team coach interview. Well, we had our second meeting with the marketing consultants. The conversation went something like this:

Me: So, how are we gonna sell bridge and make a profit?

Consultant: Well, I see that you have a number of serious problems here. Let's start with the name, "Contract Bridge." First of all, nobody likes contracts, it makes them nervous and they start thinking about getting a lawyer. Second, the focus groups told us that they didn't understand what this game had to do with bridges. They didn't see a bridge in sight, not even of a metaphoric nature. The combination of "bridge" and "contract" particularly disturbed the all-important mafioso demographic, who immediately envisioned cement shoes and a long drop.

Me: I wasn't aware there were a lot of bridge players in that demographic.
Consultant: There aren't, but it's generally wise not to offend them.

Me: I see.
Consultant: Our focus groups also wanted to know why there had to be so many cards. People were having a hard time counting up to thirteen. Some of the superstitious objected to thirteen on principal. We concluded that nine would be a better number, because the average person has at least nine fingers. Any more than ten, though, and we've lost a lot of potential customers. They also thought the cards were boring. Which led us to think, because if we change the cards properly, we can rake in a lot of money off the side. Instead of clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades, we could have Cokes, Dodges, Huggies, and Speedos.

Me: Wow. We're gonna be rich. We discussed some advertising concepts last time you were here. What did you find out from the focus groups?
Consultant: The campaign "This is not your grandmother's contract bridge!" didn't fly. Far more successful were the ads that made fun of chess weenies. This scored particularly well among bright highschoolers who didn't want to be seen as too anti-social. We also tried to get some famous people to do ads, but they didn't work out.

Me: Oh, what was the problem?
Consultant: Well, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett wouldn't do it, unless they were given a 99% interest in our company. Omar Sharif did not score well - none of the young people knew who he was.

Me: None?
Consultant: Well, one remembered the name, then realized that he once heard his grandmother say the name over and over again when he found her asleep in her chair.

Me: So, anything else?
Consultant: Well, there was one disturbing development. Some members of one focus group got indigestion, and a few fainted.

Me: My god, what did you feed them!
Consultant: Oh, it wasn't the food. At one point, a member of the group asked, "How does one go about learning to play this game?" The focus group leader mentioned two methods: taking classes or reading a 300 page book. At this point, most of the younger members of the group exhibited the previously described symptoms.

QUESTION: Can a player make money with ForcePoint Team using his spare time enjoying the game in BBO ?
ANSWER: (by BG player): No, I do not play bridge for money.
ANSWER: (by US player): Yes, I'm sure I can make enough to cover at least my annual taxes simply by playing for fun in BBO.
CONCLUSION: The answers directly explain the difference between the 2 nations living standards.

  Here is Fp simplified system using the classical HCP :

Singleton Ace = 6 HCP (4 for the Ace + 2 for the Singleton)
Ace = 4 HCP
King = 3 HCP
Singleton = Void = 2 HCP
Queen = 2 HCP
Jack = 1 HCP
For a long 7+ card suit add 1 extra HCP for every card above the 6th one

Adjustments for this Counting:
For 9 Trumps in both hands add 1 extra HCP, for 10+ Trumps add 3 extra HCP

Openings:
- 1 CL = 12+ HCP, 2+ CL  or  16+ HCP, any (if 16+ later you bid 2 CL or make a jump)
- 1 DI / 1 HE / 1SP = 12+ HCP,   5+ card suit
- 1NT = 15-17, balance
- 2 CL / 2 DI = 7-11 HCP,  7+ card suit
- 2 HE / 2SP = 7-11 HCP,  6+ card suit

Responding:
- natural on 1st round, jump on 2nd round with 16+ HCP or using 4 CP bid with or without jump for Controls (CP) asking (especially when you find a FIT )

Answers after 4 CL

1. Answers by steps. Always remove 10 CP before showing the rest of  your CP by 2 CP on step. Do not ask for CP if no one has shown 16+ HCP

- With 32 to 38 CP in both hands (or 30 to 38 CP if you have 2 good FITs)  you have a Small Slam
- With 40+ CP and FIT 5 by 3/4 or 6 by 2/3 (or 36+ CP if you have 2 good FITs)  you have a Grand Slam


 
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