Class A, however, comprises the vast majority of Auction players, who have either never had the modern system of scoring called to their attention, or, if they have seen it, have not thoroughly grasped its numerous advantages, and have continued the old method merely because they were more familiar with it and did not perfectly understand the new. It is not putting the matter too strongly to assert that every intelligent scorer, who gives the new plan a thorough test, never returns to the trials and vexations incident to keeping the tally above and below the line.
Sample sheets are appended, showing the up-to-date scoring-blank as it appears at the beginning of the rubber; the same sheet with a rubber scored, the net totals being computed at the end of each game; and also with the same rubber scored, the net totals being computed at the end of each deal. One scorer will prefer to make up his totals at the end of a game, another will elect to compute them at the termination of each deal; but either way the advantages of the score-sheet are apparent.
It goes without saying that any system which allows a player to see at a glance, not only the score of the game, but also the exact status of the rubber, is more advantageous than one which, until some time after the rubber is completed, may leave him in the dark as to whether he is ahead or behind. Some players allow, whether they or their opponents are in the lead upon the total score of the rubber, to affect their declarations and doubles. This practice cannot be enthusiastically commended, but all must admit that for such players the new scoring system is most essential.
It is, however, mainly as a labor- and time-saving device that the new plan is advocated. If any one doubt, let him keep the score of any rubber under the old method while the same rubber is being scored by some one familiar with the advantages of the new. The result is sure to be most convincing. Under the new method, the short sums in addition or subtraction are mentally computed, during the deal of the cards, etc. This occupies waste time only, and at the end of the rubber, leaves a very simple, frequently nothing more than a mental, problem.
It has been estimated that during an evening's play, at least one more rubber can be completed when the scoring is conducted under the new method.
The various score-sheets, all showing the same rubber, follow.
SAMPLE OF THE NEW SCORE-SHEET WITHOUT ANY ENTRY
| OUR SCORE | OPPONENTS' SCORE | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TRICKS | HONORS | TOTALS | TOTALS | TRICKS | HONORS |
SAMPLE OF NEW FORM OF SCORE-SHEET SHOWING A RUBBER SCORED WITH NET TOTALS COMPUTED AT END OF EACH GAME
| OUR SCORE | OPPONENTS' SCORE | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TRICKS | HONORS | TOTALS | TOTALS | TRICKS | HONORS |
| 16 | 32 | 18 | 72 | ||
| 100 | 30 | ||||
| 60 | 60 | 268 | 120 | ||
| (148) | |||||
| 216 | 266 | 27 | 18 | ||
| 20 | 30 | 414 | 145 | 48 | 52 |
| (269) | 200 | ||||
| 64 | 249 | 100 | |||
| 36 | 518 | 356 | 24 | 32 | |
| 21 | 56 | ||||
| 36 | 36 | ||||
| (162) | |||||
| 250 | |||||
| 412 | |||||