The Losing Trick Count (LTC) is one of the most used and effective methods when evaluating the strength of a hand.There are several versions of this tool, but here we will look at a relatvely easy one. However, this topic is included in the "more training" section for good reason. It takes time to get used to and some consider it a complicated tool. It is surprisingly accurate in assessing a hand's potential if used at the appropriate time.
One of the great advantages of this system is that one player in a partnership can employ it even though his partner is not.
It is used when three criteria are met:-
1. Your hand is unbalanced i.e. not 4333, 4432 or 5332. It does not work so well when holding a balanced hand.
2. There is a fit with partner
3. Your side opened the bidding.
How to count Losing Tricks.
1. Look at the first three cards of each suit and assume the ace takes the first round, the king the second and the queen the third.
2. How many of these do you not have (up to the number of cards held)?
3. Do this for each suit to obtain a total of Losing Tricks (LTs)
Let us assume you have this hand:-
♠ A873 ♥ K84 ♦ 7 ♣ T8652
You have 2 LTs in spades (missing ♠ KQ)
You have 2 LTs in hearts (missing ♥ AQ)
You have 1 LT in diamonds (missing ♦ A) You only have one card in the suit so you cannot have more than one loser
You have 3 LTs in clubs (missing ♣ AKQ) You cannot have more than three losing tricks in a suit.
The hand has a total of 8 LTs
The next step.
Add your LT total to partners. As you cannot see partner's hand you have to make assumptions.
If partner opened the bidding then assume he has a minimum opening bid (normally 12-15 high card points). Such a hand usually has 7 losers.
8 + 7 =15. Subtract this from 18 (just accept this figure for now) giving a result of 3. This is the level to which you should bid in the suit where the fit exists. On the example hand above only 7 high card points are held. Based on the traditional point count system that would mean a bid only at the two level. If we added points for shortage then a further 3 could be added to our 7 giving 10 and a bid at the three level.
In summary we have three methods of evaluation:-
a) Basic High Card Point method which would result in a bid at the two level.
b) High Crad Points plus points for shortage gives a three level bid.
c) The Losing Trick Count gives a three level bid.
Methods b) & c) are vastly superior to a). If our hand is balanced method b) is preferred but if unbalanced method c) is more accurate. The results of b) & c) do not always agree.
Another step.
You open 1S & partner responds 3S.
It does not matter what method partner used to decide his hand was worth 3S. Your task now is to decide whether to pass or take alternative action. If your hand has only 6 losers as opposed to the normal minimum opening of 7 losers then you can advance the bidding one level so bid 4S. To use the Losing Trick Count in this manner you should satisfy the three criteria outlined above.
Other assumptions.
1. We have already said that a minimum opening bid contains 7 losers.
2. A minimum response by partner at the one level normally contains 9 losers.
3. A two level response by partner normally has 8 losers e.g.
Responder holds:-
♠ KQ7632 ♥ Q52 ♦ K84 ♣ A
Partner opens 1♦ to which you responded 1♠. Partner now rebids 2♠.
You may not know on what basis partner decided his rebid but it does not matter. Assuming he is correct in his bidding (you always have to do this) you know that instead of the normal 9 losers for a 1 over 1 response you actually only have 5 losers 1♠, (missing the A♠), 2♥ (missing ace & king), 2♦ (missing ace & queen) & 0♣. That is 4 losers less than partner expected so the bidding can be increased by 4 levels i.e. 6S. This is confirmed if you add your 5 to openers presumed 7 = 12. Take this figure from 18 and lo and behold we arrive at 6S.
Advanced bidding.
If anyone wants to become good at this game the Losing Trick Count must be mastered.
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