1) The document discusses using the losing trick count (LTC) to evaluate bidding decisions at multiple example bridge boards.
2) The LTC assumes each player's expected number of losers and determines if a contract is makeable based on the total expected losers between the partners.
3) In several examples, players use the LTC to decide not to bid further, assuming their partner has too many losers based on their own hand. However, the document notes some hands were not evaluated optimally by more experienced players.
1) The document discusses using the losing trick count (LTC) to evaluate bidding decisions at multiple example bridge boards.
2) The LTC assumes each player's expected number of losers and determines if a contract is makeable based on the total expected losers between the partners.
3) In several examples, players use the LTC to decide not to bid further, assuming their partner has too many losers based on their own hand. However, the document notes some hands were not evaluated optimally by more experienced players.
1) The document discusses using the losing trick count (LTC) to evaluate bidding decisions at multiple example bridge boards.
2) The LTC assumes each player's expected number of losers and determines if a contract is makeable based on the total expected losers between the partners.
3) In several examples, players use the LTC to decide not to bid further, assuming their partner has too many losers based on their own hand. However, the document notes some hands were not evaluated optimally by more experienced players.
1) The document discusses using the losing trick count (LTC) to evaluate bidding decisions at multiple example bridge boards.
2) The LTC assumes each player's expected number of losers and determines if a contract is makeable based on the total expected losers between the partners.
3) In several examples, players use the LTC to decide not to bid further, assuming their partner has too many losers based on their own hand. However, the document notes some hands were not evaluated optimally by more experienced players.
♥KQ2 ♦K5 West North East South ♣K65 1♠ Pass 2♠ ♠ Q 10 3 ♠A5 All Pass ♥J975 ♥ A 10 6 4 ♦Q42 ♦ 10 9 8 3 North losers: ♠ = 2 ♥ = 1 ♦ = 1 ♣ = 2 Total = 6 ♣ A 10 9 ♣874 South cannot use the LTC because he does not know of an 8- ♠986 card fit. He raises to 2♠ with 6-9 points. North can use the LTC because even if South has only 3 spades North knows of ♥83 an 8-card fit. He assumes South has 9(-10) losers so his 6 ♦AJ76 losers doesn’t justify a forward move. ♣QJ32 ♠4 Board 2 : Dealer East : NS vulnerable ♥AQJ54 ♦ 10 9 6 5 3 West North East South ♣ 10 8 1♠ Pass ♠K765 ♠AQ J 32 2♠ All Pass ♥86 ♥K7 ♦AJ8 ♦KQ4 East losers: ♠ = 1 ♥ = 1 ♦ = 1 ♣ = 3 Total = 6 ♣9543 ♣762 West losers: ♠ = 2 ♥ = 2 ♦ = 2 ♣ = 3 Total = 9 ♠ 10 9 8 Expected number of tricks under LTC: 24 – 6 – 9 = 9 ♥ 10 9 3 2 Tricks made on best play = 9 E/W Points = 23 East assumes West has 9(-10) losers so his 6 loser hand ♦72 doesn’t justify a forward move ♣AKQJ ♠K865 Board 3 : Dealer South : EW vulnerable ♥9432 ♦7532 West North East South ♣5 1♠ ♠9 ♠ J 10 Pass 2♠ Pass 4♠ ♥ K Q 10 7 ♥AJ86 All Pass ♦ Q 10 9 8 6 ♦AKJ ♣ Q 10 9 ♣J873 South losers: ♠ = 1 ♥ = 1 ♦ = 1 ♣ = 1 Total = 4 ♠AQ 7432 North losers: ♠ = 2 ♥ = 3 ♦ = 3 ♣ = 1 Total = 9 ♥5 Expected number of tricks under LTC: 24 – 4 – 9 = 11 Tricks made on best play = 11 N/S Points = 16 ♦4 East/West can make 3♥. ♣AK642 ♠A Board 4 : Dealer West : All vulnerable ♥ A 10 6 4 3 ♦ 10 9 8 3 West North East South ♣874 1♠ Pass 3♠ All Pass ♠KJ 742 ♠9865 ♥QJ ♥K8 West losers: ♠ = 2 ♥ = 2 ♦ = 1 ♣ = 2 Total = 7 ♦K5 ♦AJ76 East losers: ♠ = 3 ♥ = 1 ♦ = 2 ♣ = 2 Total = 8 ♣K652 ♣QJ3 Expected number of tricks under LTC: 24 – 7 – 8 = 9 ♠ Q 10 3 Tricks made on best play = 9 E/W Points = 24 West assumes East has 8 losers so his 7 loser hand doesn’t ♥9752 justify raising to game. ♦Q42 ♣ A 10 9 ♠AQ 765 Board 5 : Dealer North : NS vulnerable ♥65 ♦ A Q 10 7 West North East South ♣42 1♠ Pass 3♠ ♠ J 10 4 ♠9 Pass 4♠ All Pass ♥AKJ7 ♥ Q 10 9 ♦K94 ♦6532 North losers: ♠ = 1 ♥ = 2 ♦ = 1 ♣ = 2 Total = 6 ♣J76 ♣ Q 10 9 8 5 South losers: ♠ = 2 ♥ = 3 ♦ = 2 ♣ = 1 Total = 8 ♠K832 Expected number of tricks under LTC: 24 – 6 – 8 = 10 ♥8432 Tricks made on best play = 11 N/S Points = 23 North assumes South has 8 losers so his 6 loser hand ♦J8 justifies raising to game. ♣AK3 ♠ 10 Board 6 : Dealer East : EW vulnerable ♥AK8 ♦63 West North East South ♣J987642 1♠ Pass ♠KJ 76 ♠AQ 432 4♠ All Pass ♥J632 ♥74 ♦AQJ9 ♦ 10 8 7 East losers: ♠ = 1 ♥ = 2 ♦ = 3 ♣ = 1 Total = 7 ♣5 ♣AQ3 West losers: ♠ = 2 ♥ = 3 ♦ = 1 ♣ = 1 Total = 7 ♠985 Expected number of tricks under LTC: 24 – 7 – 7 = 10 ♥ Q 10 9 5 Tricks made on best play = 11 E/W Points = 24. Compare this hand to hand 7. This time West has 12 points ♦K542 for his 4♠. A slam could be on if East is strong and suitable. It ♣ K 10 is unsatisfactory that this West hand is dealt with in the same way as the North hand in hand 7. Experienced players have other ways of dealing with this West hand. ♠KQ 8765 Board 7 : Dealer South : All vulnerable ♥32 ♦9 West North East South ♣J654 1♠ ♠9 ♠ 10 Pass 4♠ All Pass ♥ Q 10 9 5 ♥AKJ86 ♦KJ543 ♦ A 10 6 2 South losers: ♠ = 2 ♥ = 2 ♦ = 2 ♣ = 1 Total = 7 ♣932 ♣K87 North losers: ♠ = 1 ♥ = 2 ♦ = 1 ♣ = 3 Total = 7 ♠AJ 432 Expected number of tricks under LTC: 24 – 7 – 7 = 10 ♥74 Tricks made on best play = 10 N/S Points = 19 ♦Q87 East/West can make 3♥. If the club finesse had not worked declarer would be one off, but then East/West could have ♣ A Q 10 made 4♥. North’s 4♠ is pre-emptive but it is unsatisfactory that this North hand is dealt with in the same way as the West hand in hand 6.
♠ 10 Board 8 : Dealer West : Love all
♥ Q J 10 7 ♦AJ96 West North East South ♣ 10 9 7 5 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass ♠AQ 7 ♠KJ 654 2♠ All Pass ♥A6432 ♥98 ♦43 ♦872 East losers: ♠ = 2 ♥ = 2 ♦ = 3 ♣ = 2 Total = 9 ♣K86 ♣Q32 West cannot use the LTC because he does not know of an 8- ♠9832 card fit. He raises to 2♠ with 12-15 points. East can use the ♥K5 LTC because even if West has only 3 spades East knows of an 8-card fit. He assumes West has 7 losers so his 9 loser ♦ K Q 10 5 hand doesn’t justify a forward move. ♣AJ4 . ♠A KJ 5 Board 9 : Dealer North : EW vulnerable ♥ K Q 10 4 3 2 ♦5 West North East South ♣75 1♥ Pass 1♠ ♠87 ♠96 Pass 4♠ All Pass ♥AJ6 ♥97 ♦J742 ♦KQ963 North losers: ♠ = 1 ♥ = 1 ♦=1 ♣ = 2 Total = 5 ♣AK94 ♣ Q J 10 8 South losers: ♠ = 2 ♥= 2 ♦=2 ♣ = 3 Total = 9 ♠ Q 10 4 3 2 Expected number of tricks under LTC: 24 – 5 – 9 = 10 ♥85 Tricks made on best play = 10 N/S Points = 19 ♦ A 10 8 ♣632 ♠87 Board 10 : Dealer East : All vulnerable ♥AJ6 ♦J742 West North East South ♣AK94 1♥ Pass ♠ Q 10 4 3 2 ♠AJ 95 1♠ Pass 3♠ All Pass ♥85 ♥ K Q 10 4 3 2 ♦ A 10 8 ♦5 East losers: ♠ = 2 ♥ = 1 ♦ = 1 ♣ = 2 Total = 6 ♣632 ♣75 West losers: ♠ = 2 ♥ = 2 ♦ = 2 ♣ = 3 Total = 9 ♠K6 Expected number of tricks under LTC: 24 – 6 – 9 = 9 ♥97 Tricks made on best play = 9 E/W Points = 16 West assumes East has 6 losers so his 9 loser hand doesn’t ♦KQ963 justify raising to game. ♣ Q J 10 8 North/South can make 4♦. ♠KQ 432 Board 11 : Dealer South : Love all ♥85 ♦ A 10 8 West North East South ♣632 1♥ ♠ 10 6 ♠87 Pass 1♠ Pass 3♠ ♥97 ♥AJ6 Pass 4♠ All Pass ♦KQ963 ♦J742 ♣ Q J 10 8 ♣AK94 South losers: ♠ = 2 ♥ = 1 ♦ = 1 ♣ = 2 Total = 6 ♠AJ 95 North losers: ♠ = 1 ♥ = 2 ♦ = 2 ♣ = 3 Total = 8 ♥ K Q 10 4 3 2 Expected number of tricks under LTC: 24 – 6 – 8 = 10 ♦5 Tricks made on best play = 10 N/S Points = 19 North assumes South has 6 losers so his 8 loser hand ♣75 justifies raising to game. ♠J Board 12 : Dealer West : NS vulnerable ♥ A 10 9 7 ♦942 West North East South ♣ AJ954 1♠ Pass 3♠ All Pass ♠Q 9876 ♠A5432 ♥Q32 ♥K86 West losers: ♠ = 2 ♥ = 2 ♦ = 1 ♣ = 1 Total = 6 ♦KQ3 ♦A65 East losers: ♠ = 2 ♥ = 2 ♦ = 2 ♣ = 2 Total = 8 ♣K8 ♣73 Expected number of tricks under LTC: 24 –6 – 8 = 10 ♠ K 10 Tricks made on best play = 8 E/W Points = 23 West has 6 losers but so does the North hand in hand 13. ♥J54 The two hands are a world apart! With so many queens and ♦ J 10 8 7 no aces West should demote his hand to 7 losers and pass ♣ Q 10 6 2 3♠. Even this proves too high! ♠K9876 Board 13 : Dealer North : All vulnerable ♥A32 ♦KQ3 West North East South ♣A8 1♠ Pass 3♠ ♠ 10 ♠Q J Pass 4♠ All Pass ♥QJ54 ♥ 10 9 7 ♦ J 10 8 7 ♦942 North losers: ♠ = 2 ♥ = 2 ♦ = 1 ♣ = 1 Total = 6 ♣ K 10 6 2 ♣QJ954 South losers: ♠ = 2 ♥ = 2 ♦ = 2 ♣ = 2 Total = 8 ♠A5432 Expected number of tricks under LTC: 24 –6 – 8 = 10 ♥K86 Tricks made on best play = 11 N/S Points = 27 North has 6 losers but so does the West hand in hand 13. ♦A65 The two hands are a world apart! With so many aces West ♣73 might consider promoting his hand to 5 losers. He certainly has enough to raise 3♠ to 4♠. ♠J 863 Board 14 : Dealer East : Love all ♥AKQ6 ♦K752 West North East South ♣2 1♦ 1♠ ♠ 10 9 5 ♠7 Pass 4♠ All Pass ♥84 ♥ 10 9 3 2 ♦J4 ♦ A Q 10 8 6 South losers: ♠ = 0 ♥ = 3 ♦ = 2 ♣ = 3 Total = 8 ♣KJ9763 ♣ A Q 10 North losers: ♠ = 3 ♥ = 0 ♦ = 2 ♣ = 1 Total = 6 ♠A KQ 42 Expected number of tricks under LTC: 24 – 8 – 6 = 10 ♥J75 Tricks made on best play = 10 N/S Points = 23 A minimum one-level overcall has 8 losers ♦93 ♣854 ♠ 10 7 Board 15 : Dealer South : NS vulnerable ♥ 10 9 8 ♦K54 West North East South ♣ Q 10 6 5 4 1♦ ♠AQ 32 ♠K98654 Dbl Pass 4♠ All Pass ♥J743 ♥KQ2 ♦3 ♦ 10 9 6 West losers: ♠ = 1 ♥ = 3 ♦ = 1 ♣ = 2 Total = 7 ♣AJ32 ♣8 East losers: ♠ = 2 ♥ = 1 ♦ = 3 ♣ = 1 Total = 7 ♠J Expected number of tricks under LTC: 24 – 7 – 7 = 10 ♥A65 Tricks made on best play = 11 E/W Points = 20 A minimum takeout double has 7 losers so with only 7 losers ♦AQJ872 and a known fit East is well worth 4♠. ♣K97
♠KJ 65 Board 16 : Dealer West : EW vulnerable
♥9 ♦AQ32 West North East South ♣K876 1♥ Dbl Pass 2♠ ♠ 10 4 3 ♠9 3♥ 4♠ All Pass ♥AKQJ86 ♥ 10 5 4 ♦J5 ♦ 10 9 8 7 North losers: ♠ = 2 ♥ = 1 ♦ = 1 ♣ = 2 Total = 6 ♣AJ ♣ Q 10 9 5 4 South losers: ♠ = 1 ♥ = 3 ♦ = 2 ♣ = 2 Total = 8 ♠AQ 872 Expected number of tricks under LTC: 24 – 6 – 8 = 10 ♥732 Tricks made on best play = 11 N/S Points = 13 A minimum takeout double has 7 losers so with only 8 losers ♦K64 and a known fit South is worth 2♠. With only 6 losers North ♣32 should raise to 4♠.