vulnerable

The penalties for a vulnerable team failing to make a contract are larger. However, if you win a second game, you get an additional bonus for winning the rubber. See contract bridge scoring for details.

In duplicate bridge, where each hand is scored separately from others, the vulnerable/not vulnerable assignments rotate so that each combination of vulnerability is played equally many times. Each hand is scored as though it occurred in that particular situation.

Vul"ner*a*ble (?), a. [L. vulnerabilis wounding, injurious, from vulnerare to wound, vulnus a wound; akin to Skr. vraa: cf. F. vuln'erable.]

1.

Capable of being wounded; susceptible of wounds or external injuries; as, a vulnerable body.

Achilles was vulnerable in his heel; and there will be wanting a Paris to infix the dart. Dr. T. Dwight.

2.

Liable to injury; subject to be affected injuriously; assailable; as, a vulnerable reputation.

His skill in finding out the vulnerable parts of strong minds was consummate. Macaulay.

© Webster 1913.