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THE LOSING TRICK COUNT -- MAY 2001

The notes which follow are a very simple introduction to the Losing Trick Count ( LTC). They are intentionally kept short in order that an improver (perhaps a player who has played bridge for about one year) can absorb enough of the LTC to put it into practice.

The object of the LTC is to act as a guide to enable you & your partner to finish at the correct level in a trump suit, where you possess at least 8 cards between you in that suit. In these notes, the LTC is not considered to be appropriate where no-trump bidding is concerned. Neither are overcalls considered.

 

THE FIRST STEPS.

It should be understood that the five points given below always need to be retained at the back of your mind in any steps connected with the losing trick count :-

It is best used when a trump fit has been established.

It assesses the number of tricks the partnership is likely to win as declarer.

It is not designed for No-trump hands.

It is quite unsuitable for misfit hands.

The method assumes that suits break normally and half your finesses work.

The mathematics of the method is simple. What you do is to :-

a) count losers in your own hand

      1. assess losers in your partner’s hand and then :-

      2. add the two sets of losers together & subtract from 18.

THE NUMBER YOU OBTAIN INFORMS YOU AT WHAT LEVEL YOU SHOULD EXPECT TO PLAY YOUR FINAL CONTRACT. The next two sections deal with how to obtain the answers to a) and b) above.

 

COUNTING LOSERS IN YOUR HAND.

The rules for counting losers in your own hand are as follows :_

  1. There can never be more than three losers in any one suit.

  2. There are never more losers in a suit than the number of cards in that suit.

  3. Count an A, K, or Q as a winner ; anything lower is a loser. Only count A and K in a doubleton suit and only count an A in a singleton suit. Eg. :-

A x x x x... = 2 losers A.... = 0 loser Q x x...= 2.5 losers

K x... = 1 loser void... = 0 loser Q J x...= 2 losers

Q J... = 2 losers 10... = 1 loser Q x... = 2 losers

The number of losers is given at the base of each example; make sure that you understand the answers :-

x x...........x x.................A x x.............x x.................Q J x..

K x...........Q 9................K Q x x x......A x x x..........A x x x

A K J x x...K J x x...........K x...............A Q x x x.....Q x x

x x x x.......K Q x x x.x ...x x................Q x...................x x x

7.............. .7.................. 7................ 7............... 9.5

ASSESSING PARTNER’S LOSERS.

The assumption that is made is :

A minimum opening hand ....... shows 7 losers

A strong opening hand ( 16 – 18 points ) ....... shows 5 to 6 losers

A single raise eg 1H – 2H ....... 8 / 9

Jump rebid by opener in own suit eg. 1C : 1S , 3C........ 5 / 6

A response at the 1-level. Eg. 1H : 1S ........ 9 or better

A response at the 2-level. Eg. 1H : 2D ........... 8 or better

Three typical bidding sequences are as follows. Partner’s bidding is on the left side each time and his/her suggested losers are underneath his/her bidding :-

1C------- 1H ////// 1C -------1H ////// 1C -------1H.....

2H..... /////// 3H..... /////// 2D....

7 losers ////// 6 losers...... /////// 5 losers.....

EXAMPLES TO ILLUSTRATE THE CONCEPT.

. Your partner opens 1H (so you assume he has 7 losers or better – see earlier) and you hold each of the hands shown. Note your losers in each case & the response you should make. As a beginner/improver, you will see how well the LTC works with distributional hands containing relatively few honour points.

x x x............. //////// Axx ...........///// x................QJ x

K x x x .......... /////// K J x x .....///// K Q x x x x..K x x x

x x................. /////// x...............///// x x x............J x x

K x x x........... ////// K x x x x....///// K x x.............A x x

LTC=9, BID 2H....................LTC=8, BID 3H.........LTC=7, BID4H.... LTC=10, But BID 2H

In the 4th example, common sense tells you that with 8 points you should bid 2H.

2. You open 1H on each of the hands below and Partner responds 1S in each case (so you assume that he has 9 losers or better). Note your LTC and your next bid:

K Q x x .......... -K Q x x........... A 8 5 4 3

A K x x ........... -A K x x x x...... A K 8 6 4 2

J x x............... x x.................. A Q

K x...................x.......................None

LTC=6, BID 3S......LTC=5, BID 4S......LTS=3, BID 6S

 

3. Consider how you might be in a slam when partner has shown an LTC =5 & you have only 7 honour points! Partner opens 1D, you respond 1H (with an LTC=9 or better) and then partner bids 4H. You hold:

8.......K 8 7 5 3 2....... 5 2.......A 9 7 4

you have an LTC=7. Partner when he jumps to 4H shows an LTC=5 (taking your response for an LTC=9). This shows slam potential (7+5 =12, 18-12=6) and even though you only have 7 points, you must try for a slam (Blackwood etc).

 

ADJUSTMENTS TO THE LOSING TRICK COUNT.

As you gain experience & confidence, you could extend your knowledge of the LTC by including a few refinements:

a) THE OPENING BID.

An opening bid is normally made on an LTC of 7 or better. However, the LTC is not infallible & you would obviously open when it seems a sensible bid:

x x x x ...... K x x ....... A J x...... A Q x... LTC=8, but open 1NT

A x x x ..... A x x ........ A x x...... A x x.... LTC=8, but open 1S

b) A COMBINATION SUCH AS A J 10, A J x, K J x, A K J, A Q J

The first three could be considered a 1.5 loser grouping if you have to make a close decision.

In the same way, A K J and A Q J could be considered as 0.5 losers when faced with a borderline decision.

c) TRUMP SUPPORT

If you have only an 8 card trump fit, then add one loser if it appears to be weak. You may regain

this loser if there is ruffing potential. With a ten card fit, you may deduct one loser.

c:\LCT short notes Peter Dawson May 2001