Glossary Z

BRIDGE GLOSSARY

Zar Points - Aggressive Bidding Hand Evaluation
Mr. Zar Petkov of Aurora, Ontario, Canada, has developed a mathematical guide to hand evaluation, which differs from the standard. The conclusion is the result of exhaustive research of many game contracts bid by world-class experts, and follows the 80-20 rule, whereby hand evaluation is 80% initial evaluation and 20% evaluation adjustment as the bidding progresses. The hand evaluation process has two parts: calculating the High Card Points and the Distribution Points.

This is a .pdf file format and, depending on your browser, will be automatically downloaded to your computer and automatically opened with Adobe Acrobat or automatically opened by your browser. The Internet-published version can be found at: http://public.aci.on.ca/~zpetkov/. The method is only preserved and archived here at this site.

The 3-Part Zar Points Article
This download contains the .pdf file, written October 2003, of Never Miss a Game Again, The finer Arts of Zar Points, and The Research in a book-format comprising 70 page. This is a .pdf file format and, depending on your browser, will be automatically downloaded to your computer and automatically opened with Adobe Acrobat or automatically opened by your browser. The Internet-published version can be found at: http://public.aci.on.ca/~zpetkov/. The method is only preserved and archived here at this site with the permission of the author.

The 5-Part Zar Points Book
This download contains the .pdf file, written October 2003, of Never Miss a Game Again, The finer Arts, and The Research (like the Article above) plus the Bermuda Bowl Discussions and the Critics, comprising 130 pages. This is a .pdf file format and, depending on your browser, will be automatically downloaded to your computer and automatically opened with Adobe Acrobat or automatically opened by your browser. The Internet-published version can be found at: http://public.aci.on.ca/~zpetkov/. The method is only preserved and archived here at this site with the permission of the author.

Zebra Bidding System
This information is only archived on this site in a .pdf file format for future reference. The defining elements of the bidding system is explained below by one of the two authors.

ZEBRA 2000 as it is played by Krister Ahlesved and Torbjörn Axelsson native of Solna and Linköping, Sweden. This release has been developed during the period 1999-2000. ZEBRA 2000 will never be finished as it is continuously developed. Every summer there is an system check. In the summer of 1999 Torbjörn Axelsson become a Mumin player from which ZEBRA 2000 derive its origin from. The major changes from Mumin to ZEBRA 2000 is in the 1 opening.

This system use 5-card major with a double-coloured 1. Many ideas has been stolen from The Carrot Club, and the NT-bidding from the Scanian team in Skåne (south of Sweden). To put pressure on opponents we use 2-level opening with high frequency. To add some more pressure we use a "mini"- NT (8-11) in favourable zone. Modern bridge is played by very active and aggressive opponents. Therefore, we have spent a lot time defining sequences after opponents interference and in the defence.

Solna, in June 2000
Krister Ahlesved
Torbjörn Axelsson

Zebulon Convention - Preferences System
A No Trump Overcall System for Current ACBL Restrictions published by Mr. John Vega and Mr. Marty Lavine. The concept is the variation on the theme of the Suction convention to meet the requirements of bridge sponsoring organizations, especially ACBL, announced in 1998, with the amended section of the General Convention Chart which relates to No Trump defenses by requiring that direct overcalls "other than double and 2 Clubs, must have at least one known suit." The Zebulon convention was later designated as Preferences. The original published concept is in .pdf file format and the re-written publication is also in a .pdf file format. Clicking on these links will cause, depending on your browser, the file to be automatically downloaded to your comuter and opened automatically with Adobe Acrobat or your browser will automatically open the file.

Von Zedtwitz Gold Cup or Trophy
This trophy was donated by Mr. Waldemar von Zedtwitz in 1930 for one of the most highly regarded pair events, and is presented to the winner of the Life Master Open Pairs Championship. The trophy was initially contested by master players, who had qualified by winning a national championship. It was a four-session event, and the field was limited to 64 players so that a complete movement could be played. The trophy was originally presented on the basis that three wins by one player would secure him outright possession of the trophy.

This feat was achieved by Mr. Howard Schenken in 1934, who won in 1931 and 1933 with Mr. David Burnstine and in 1934 with Mr. Richard Frey. He also won in 1941 with Mr. Merwyn Maier and in 1943 with Mr. John Crawford.

The trophy, put back into competition by the donor, was stolen in 1954, when it was held by Mr. John Hubbel, but the trophy was stolen. The theft followed a television appearance during which Mr. John Hubbel had exhibited the trophy and given the address of his bridge club, where the cup was normally displayed. The trophy was never recovered and the present cup is an exact replica.

Zero
The lowest possible score on a deal on a duplicate board. The term is also applied to a lost board in a team-of-four contest.

Zero Or Two Higher
This is an opening lead convention, the intention of which is to eliminate certain ambiguities of standard honor leads. For example, the lead of a Ten or Nine promises either zero honors or two higher honors in that suit. The lead of the Jack, however, denies any honor higher than the Jack. According to partnership understanding these leads can be used against either a suit contract or a No Trump contract, or against both forms.

Zero Tolerance
Starting in the spring of 1998, the ACBL Board of Directors has decided to effectively adopt the policy of Zero Tolerance as an ACBL policy. Acceptable and commendable behavior include:

1. extending greetings in a friendly manner
2. being a good host at the bridge table
3. complimenting the bidding and even the play of the opponents
4. being friendly and cordial to you own partner
5. having two convention cards available, which are clearly completed

Unacceptable behavior includes:

1. negative comments regarding the play or bidding of the opponents or partner
2. taking obvious delight or gloating over good results
3. rudeness, insinuations, intimidation, profanity at the table
4. giving gratuitous lessons and analyses at the table
5. disruptive arguing with a director's ruling

Zero Tolerance is ACBL policy for North American Bridge Championships. It is recommended but not mandatory for clubs, units and districts.

Zia Cuebids - Zia Cue Bids
The Zia Cuebid consists of bidding the suit, which the defender should not lead.

Zig-Zag Swiss
See: Dight 2 No Trump

Zimbabwe Bridge Union
Contact Address
c/o Harare Bridge Club
83 Bishop. Gaul Ave Milton Park
Harare
Zimbabwe
Telephone: 263-4-301 559

Zip Swiss
This is a special version of Swiss Teams designed to be finished in generally a one-session event at the end of a championship play. The normal format is to have the games conducted with five-board matches, five minutes per board, and five matches per game.

Zirinsky Formula
This is a method of determining the victory points long used in Far East Championships. All boards with zero IMPs are scored as one to each team. The winning score is then multiplied by the number four and divided by the losing score. There is a maximum of 8 points possible. The losing team receives the balance of the 8 points. This formula or provision was introduced by Mr. Victor Zirinsky of Hong Kong as a modification to the original concept which gave inequitable results in low-scoring matches. The so-called push boards, with zero IMPs, are scored as one to each team. Then the winning score is multiplied by four and divided by the losing score, with a maximum of eight VPs. The losing Team receives the balance of the eight points at stake. Mr. Victor Zirinsky introduced this method as a modification to the original concept which provided inadequate results in low-scoring matches.

Zones - The global game of bridge has been divided up into eight geographical areas called Zones. See: WBF Zone