D28 THE LOSING TRICK COUNT (LTC)
1. Introduction
We normally evaluate hands in terms of point count. In addition, there are various methods for counting extra points for suit length, voids and singletons but this is not always easy to apply. For instance, a void in your partner's main suit is usually a liability rather than extra values! The Losing Trick count provides a more reliable method of evaluating a distributional hand opposite partner's bids when you have found a good trump fit
2. How to count Losers in a hand
You can only use the losing trick count when you have found a 4/4 (or longer) trump fit
THIS RULE IS MOST IMPORTANT .
When you have found the fit, now look at each suit in your hand in turn. Take the first three cards in the suit and assume that the Ace will win the first round, the King the second and the Queen the third. If you have four or more cards in the suit, only consider the first three cards. If you have fewer than 3 cards, then you only count the losers for those cards. Add up the losers in all four suits.
For example
| Hand1 | Hand2 | Hand3 | ||||||||
| ª | A 6 4 3 2 | = 2 Losers | ª | 7 | = 1 Loser | ª | 8 7 5 3 2 | = 3 Losers | ||
| © | Q | = 1 Loser | © | A K 3 2 | = 1 Loser | © | A | = no Loser | ||
| ¨ | A Q 7 6 | = 1 Loser | ¨ | J 7 6 2 | = 3 Losers | ¨ | A K Q 10 3 | = no Loser | ||
| § | Q J 3 | = 2 Losers | § | K 6 5 4 | = 2 Losers | § | K 2 | = 1 Loser | ||
| Total | = 6 Losers | Total | = 7 Losers | Total | = 4 Losers |
3. How to apply the Losing Trick Count
You add your losing count to partner's count, subtract the total from 18 and the result gives the level at which you can bid. An opening bid shows 7 losers or less.
e.g. Partner opens 1 ª and you hold.
ª
J 9 8 7 6 = 3 losers
© Void= no loser
¨
K Q J 8 6 = 1 loser
§
J 3 2 = 3 losers;
This hand contains 8 points but only 7 losers. Your partners opening bid shows 7 losers so, in total, you have 14 losers. Subtract this from 18 leaves 4. Your bid is 4 ª .
4. How to count losers in yoour partner's hand
4.1 When your partner starts the bidding
a) Opening one of a suit shows 7 losers
b) A simple suit overcall shows 8 losers
4.2 When partner changes the suit after you have opened the bidding
a) When partner changes the suit at the one level he shows 9 losers e.g 1 § P 1ª
b) When partner changes the suit at the two level he shows 8 losers e.g 1 © P 2¨
4.3 When partner raises your suit after you have opened the bidding
a) When Partner raises your suit to the 2
level. he shows 9 losers e.g 1
ª P 2ª
b) When Partner raises your suit to the 3
level. he shows 8 losers e.g 1ª P 3ª
c) When Partner raises your suit to the 4 level. he shows 7 losers e.g 1 ª P 4ª