International match points (IMP) within the card game of contract bridge is a measurement for conversion of absolute contract bridge scores. The total point difference between two scores is compared to a scale ranging from 0 to 24 to obtain an IMP score.[1][2]

Revised IMP table effective September 1, 1962[3]
Point difference IMPs Point difference IMPs Point difference IMPs
from to from to from to
0 10 0 370 420 9 1750 1990 18
20 40 1 430 490 10 2000 2240 19
50 80 2 500 590 11 2250 2490 20
90 120 3 600 740 12 2500 2990 21
130 160 4 750 890 13 3000 3490 22
170 210 5 900 1090 14 3500 3990 23
220 260 6 1100 1290 15 4000 or more 24
270 310 7 1300 1490 16
320 360 8 1500 1740 17

IMP scoring is used in competitive bridge, including duplicate bridge (including on some online bridge websites),[4] but rarely in any kind of companion bridge, and never when playing rubber bridge.[5]

Optimal tactics at IMPs differ from those of matchpoints and are similar to those for rubber bridge. When playing for IMPs the declarer's primary objective is to make the contract without jeopardizing it in a quest for overtricks; for the defense it is to defeat the contract without worrying about surrendering overtricks.[6]

References

  1. ^ "IMP: International Match Point Scoring - Duplicate Bridge". www.bridgehands.com.
  2. ^ "IMPs and Matchpoints". pi.math.cornell.edu.
  3. ^ 2017 World Bridge Federation IMP Table, Law 78
  4. ^ at [1] press play and then on the top right corner, "IMP" and scroll the question mark
  5. ^ MayHem. "Things you might like to know about duplicate bridge" (PDF). omahabridge.org. UNIT 241 Board of Directors.
  6. ^ Manley, Brent; Horton, Mark; Greenberg-Yarbro, Tracey; Rigal, Barry, eds. (2011). The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge (7th ed.). Horn Lake, MS: American Contract Bridge League. p. 421. ISBN 978-0-939460-99-1.