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Week 11Week 11

The Losing Trick CountThe Losing Trick Count

(LTC)(LTC)

LTCLTC

We have used mainly HCP for decisions We have used mainly HCP for decisions on what to bidon what to bid

Works very well for NT contractsWorks very well for NT contracts But not good enough for suit contractsBut not good enough for suit contracts We must consider the value of shapeWe must consider the value of shape LTC allows us to evaluate all handsLTC allows us to evaluate all hands Giving more accurate suit biddingGiving more accurate suit bidding

Calculating the LTCCalculating the LTC

Count up to 3 cards in each suit Count up to 3 cards in each suit More than 3 discount lowestMore than 3 discount lowest Any that are not A K or Q are losersAny that are not A K or Q are losers Singleton K or Q is a loserSingleton K or Q is a loser Doubleton Q is a loserDoubleton Q is a loser Bare Q is a ½ loser (Bare is Q without Bare Q is a ½ loser (Bare is Q without

A K or J i.e. Qxx)A K or J i.e. Qxx)

Calculate the LTCCalculate the LTC How many How many losers?losers? 22 How many How many losers?losers? 11 How many How many losers?losers? 22 How many How many

losers?losers? 11 TotalTotal 66

A

J

3

K

Q

3

4

T

4

3

J

3

2

LTCLTC The lower the LTC the stronger the handThe lower the LTC the stronger the hand Provided you find a fit!Provided you find a fit! You You must notmust not use LTC unless you have use LTC unless you have

agreed a suit!!agreed a suit!! A weak 1 of a suit opener would normally A weak 1 of a suit opener would normally

have a LTC of 7 (used only as a guide)have a LTC of 7 (used only as a guide) 1NT opener is very often 81NT opener is very often 8 Sometimes 7 with a good HCP countSometimes 7 with a good HCP count

So lets calculate the LTC for a number of So lets calculate the LTC for a number of handshands

And look at the HCP count as wellAnd look at the HCP count as well

Calculate the LTCCalculate the LTC How many HCP?How many HCP? 1111 How many How many losers? losers? 22 How many How many losers?losers? 11 How many How many losers? losers? 33 How many How many losers? losers? 00 TotalTotal 66

A

J

3

K

Q

4

T

4

3

J

3

2

2


J

T

3

K

Q

3

4

5

4

3

J

3

2


A

K

3

K

Q

3

4

Q

4

3

J

3

2


A

K

K

Q

3

4

Q

4

3

J

3

2

A


Q

J

Q

K

4

T

4

3

J

3

2

2

3


A

K

K

A

4

J

3

Q

2

3

J

2

3

Calculate the LTCCalculate the LTC How many HCP?How many HCP? 1717 How many How many losers? losers? 22 How many How many losers?losers? 11 How many How many losers? losers? 2½ 2½ How many How many losers? losers? 22 TotalTotal 7½ 7½

A

K

A

4

J

3

Q

2

3

J

2

3

Q

NoteNote

The Losing Trick Count is The Losing Trick Count is related to shape not point related to shape not point countcount

LTCLTC

We have a maximum of 12 losersWe have a maximum of 12 losers So does PartnerSo does Partner Total of 24 losers possibleTotal of 24 losers possible In an agreed major:In an agreed major: With 14 losers between us game is onWith 14 losers between us game is on With 15 game is unlikelyWith 15 game is unlikely With 16 we want to stop at the 2 levelWith 16 we want to stop at the 2 level With 12 we should consider slamWith 12 we should consider slam

LTCLTC

If partner opens 1 of a suit assume 7 If partner opens 1 of a suit assume 7 loserslosers

With a major suit fit andWith a major suit fit and 9 losers raise to 29 losers raise to 2 8 losers raise to 38 losers raise to 3 7 losers raise to 47 losers raise to 4

Using LTC as responderUsing LTC as responder LTC?LTC? 66 Partner opens 1Partner opens 1 Combined LTC is 13 Combined LTC is 13

or betteror better Bid?Bid? 11 If partner re-bids If partner re-bids

weakly bid 4weakly bid 4 If partner re-bids If partner re-bids

stronger bid 4NTstronger bid 4NT

A

J

3

K

Q

3

4

T

4

3

J

3

2

Using LTC as responderUsing LTC as responder LTC?LTC? 77 Partner opens 1Partner opens 1 Combined LTC is Combined LTC is

14 or better14 or better Bid?Bid? 44 With only 5 HCP!With only 5 HCP! LTC takes LTC takes

account of shapeaccount of shape

T

9

3

K

Q

3

4

5

4

3

4

3

2


15 or better15 or better Bid?Bid? 33 InvitationalInvitational Partner can bid Partner can bid

game with LTC 6game with LTC 6

Q

J

3

Q

K

4

T

4

3

J

3

2

2


14 or better14 or better Bid?Bid? 44 With 18 HCP it With 18 HCP it

looks great but looks great but too flat for moretoo flat for more

A

K

3

K

A

4

J

Q

3

2

2

J

4

Building up the pictureBuilding up the picture

Opening bid assume LTC Opening bid assume LTC 77

Weak response assume 9Weak response assume 9 Re-bid shows LTC of 6 Re-bid shows LTC of 6

and 5and 5 ‘s‘s Responder bids 4Responder bids 4 with with

LTC of 8 and 3LTC of 8 and 3 ‘s ‘s

1

3

P

P

1 P

LTC - SummaryLTC - Summary LTC is more accurate than HCP for suit LTC is more accurate than HCP for suit

contractscontracts It takes shape as well as strength into It takes shape as well as strength into

accountaccount Much better for raising suit bidsMuch better for raising suit bids 1 of a major, 2 of the same major is 1 of a major, 2 of the same major is

better if it shows 9 LTC rather than 6-9 better if it shows 9 LTC rather than 6-9 HCPHCP

1 of a major, 3 of the same major 1 of a major, 3 of the same major showing 8 LTC is very usefulshowing 8 LTC is very useful

Remember the joint LTC for game is 14Remember the joint LTC for game is 14

LTC - SummaryLTC - Summary SO:SO: 1 major, 2 of the same major shows 1 major, 2 of the same major shows

9 LTC9 LTC 1 major, 3 of the same major shows 1 major, 3 of the same major shows

8 LTC8 LTC 1 major, 4 of the same major shows 1 major, 4 of the same major shows

7 LTC7 LTC 1 major, 4 of a minor agrees the 1 major, 4 of a minor agrees the

major and shows more than 7 LTCmajor and shows more than 7 LTC This is a Splinter or Cue Bid in the minor This is a Splinter or Cue Bid in the minor

by agreement. (Separate lessons)by agreement. (Separate lessons)

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