Matchpoint Scoring: Travelers, Recaps, and Ranking
How to hand-score a duplicate game with traveling score slips and recap sheets: awarding matchpoints, using check-totals, and ranking the field.
Matchpoint scoring compares the results that different pairs achieved on the same cards. This is the manual method using paper forms; it is the foundation behind computerized scoring. Source: Mechanics for Duplicate Clubs with Small Games.
The traveling score#
Each board carries a folded traveling score (Form 234) in its North pocket. After each table finishes the board, North records the contract, declarer, tricks made or down, the N-S plus/minus score, and the E-W pair number, then has E or W verify it before refolding. Accuracy here is critical — errors cause much rechecking later.
Awarding matchpoints#
Comparing only same-direction scores on that board, each score earns 1 matchpoint for every lower score and ½ matchpoint for every identical score. The highest score gets the most; the lowest gets zero.
E-W matchpoints are the complement of the N-S result on the same board: corresponding N-S and E-W matchpoints add up to "top", which is always one fewer than the number of scores (in a seven-table game, top = 6).
Check-totals#
Verify each board by a check-total — the sum of the digits from 1 up to top (for a seven-table game, 1+2+3+4+5+6 = 21). The matchpoints in each direction must add to that figure. Half-points don't change it because they always come in pairs.
Recap and ranking#
Copy every board's matchpoints onto the recap sheet (Form 133), N-S on the top half and E-W on the bottom. Add each pair's row for its total points, then confirm the grand check-total (per-board check-total × number of boards; e.g., 21 × 21 = 441). When totals match, the score is "in balance." Rank N-S and E-W separately — they didn't play the same cards. The number of places ranked is 40% of the number of tables, rounded up (8 tables × 40% = 3.2 → 4 places per direction).