[blml] Decimal HCP ranges.

[Jerry Fusselman]

On 6/28/07, Nigel <Guthrie at ntlworld.com> wrote:
> [nige1]
>
> SUMMARY: By evaluating other relevant factors according to your agreed
> methods, you can order eligible hands with a given raw HCP from worst
> to best.  Presumably the worst hands with a given HCP are at the
> bottom of each *one point range* and the best at the top for example
> 12.0 might be QJ2 QJ2 QJ2 QJ32 whereas 12.9 might be ATxxx ATx ATx xx

[Jerry]

There is no chance that Tim means this.  Few good bridge players
really believe that all balanced hands with 13 HCP are better than all
balanced hands with 12 HCP.

Using decimal points, I would say that your flat 8-quack hand is worth
about 9.1 HCP, and the three-ace hand with good intermediates and a
five-card suit is worth about 14.2 HCP.  It would be easy to give some
evidence for that assessment with a computer study that shows that the
better hand yields about 1.7 or so tricks more on average.  Anyway,
their difference in strength is easily shown to be more than 9/10 of
jack.

Jerry Fusselman