4/19/2020 LOSING TRICK COUNT

LOSING TRICK COUNT

(Developed by F. Dudley Courtenay, popularised by Maurice Harrison-Gray during 1930’s)

The Losing Trick Count used in conjunction with the standard point count, is a method of evaluating the trick
taking potential of two combined hands playing in a suit contract. It primarily quantifies the ‘shape’ of the hand,
and is merely a different but more formal way of adding points for length, singletons, or voids.
It should only be used when a fit has been established. Moreover I personally restrict its use to immediate
responses to partner’s opening bid, and to opener’s re-bid if partner has supported the suit. At higher levels,
trump solidity, cue-bids, controls bids, etc. are more valuable in determining the slam potential of hands.
(The examples that follow relate to a five-card major system, but the method is identical for four-card majors)

Mechanics

1. Count losers.
2. Add to partner’s losers.
3. Subtract total from 18 – the answer gives the level at which you can expect to play with the fit as trumps.

Benchmarks

Based on the normal Milton Point Count – minimum of 12 to open; minimum of 6 to respond (in any suit):

An opening hand will usually have a maximum of 7 losers.

A responding hand (in support, or in a change of suit situation) will have a maximum of 9 losers.

Counting Losers

- Only the first three cards in any suit can be losers

- Only the Ace, King, and Queen are winners
- ‘Droppable Honours’ count as losers (i.e. singleton King, or doubleton Queen)

However there are modifications to be made with three card or more suits containing the Queen.

- if the Q is in the trump suit (in support response) – no modification.

- if the Q is supported by the A, K, or J – no modification.
- Q109 – no modification.
- if the Q is not supported by any of the above – add ½ loser.

(Examples: Axxx – 2 losers; Kxx – 2 losers; Qxx – 2½ losers (unless trump suit); QJx – 2 losers; AQx – 1
loser; KQx – 1 loser; Kx – 1 loser; Qx – 2 losers; A – 0 losers; K – 1 losers).

Also opinions vary with AJ10. I would consider this to be a 1 loser suit.

Any ‘½ s’ are then rounded upwards – i.e. 6½ becomes 7.

Also beware of ace-less or king-less hands (I would add ½ loser for a hand with no ace and 1 loser for the rare
hands with neither ace nor king).

It should be noted that the above is a basic guide to loser counting. In the fuller system, distinctions are made
between balanced and non-balanced hands – but these are for the experts.

Examples (assume responding to five-card major 1♠ opener):

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a) ♠ K75 b) ♠ A754 c) ♠ K752 d) ♠ K752 e) ♠ K872

♥ A7 ♥6 ♥A ♥K ♥A
♦ 9873 ♦ Q97653 ♦ K973 ♦ Q973 ♦ Q973
♣ 7532 ♣ Q4 ♣ 8742 ♣ 8742 ♣ J742

f) ♠ 872
♥ K8
♦ Q764
♣ J742

a) Spades – 2 loser; Hearts – 1; Diamonds – 3 ; Clubs – 3: TOTAL – 9 losers.

b) Spades – 2 loser; Hearts – 1; Diamonds – 2½ ; Clubs – 2: TOTAL – 7 ½ (i.e. 8) losers.

c) Spades – 2 loser; Hearts – 0; Diamonds – 2; Clubs - 3: TOTAL – 7 losers.

d) Spades – 2 loser; Hearts – 1; Diamonds – 2½ ; Clubs – 3; No Aces – ½ TOTAL – 9 losers.

e) Spades – 2 loser; Hearts – 0; Diamonds – 2½ ; Clubs – 3: TOTAL – 7½ (i.e. 8) losers.

f) Spades – 3 loser; Hearts – 1; Diamonds – 2½ ; Clubs – 3: No Aces – ½ TOTAL - 10 losers.

Subtract From 18

Responder will add his known losers to opener’s assumed minimum (7), and subtract from 18. This gives the
support level. For example, responder with 9 losers, adds to 7 (=16), subtracts total from 18 (18 – 16) = 2, so
support at the ‘2’ level.

Take care with 7 loser support hands. Only bid direct to 4 if the hcp are minimal (i.e. a pre-emptive raise). With
the same 7 losers and say a 13+ hand use your normal delayed game raise methods (change of suit; Jacoby;
Baron etc.).

Responder will have based his support on an assumed 7 loser opening hand from partner. If opener has a better
hand (i.e. less than 7 losers), he can raise partner’s support level:

1♠ - 2♠ (9 losers) – 4♠ (with a five loser hand).

Also if opener is able to support a new suit from responder, he should assume responder has a 9 loser hand (see
example (e) below)
Looking at examples (a) – (f) above, responder should bid as follows.

a) – 2♠ (9 losers + assumed 7 losers = 16; 18 – 16 = 2).

b) – 3♠ (combined 15 losers). Standard limit bids would dictate only 2♠, but this doesn’t take account of
the shape.

c) – 4♠ (only 9 high card points, but again shape would give a good play for 10 tricks).

d) – 2♠ (similar to (c), but the Q♦ has less trick taking potential than K♦, and aceless).

e) – 3♠ (combined 15 losers), whereas standard limit bids would dictate only 2♠.

f) – 2♠ . Ltc would indicate a limit of only 1♠ with 10 losers (10 + 7 = 17; 18 – 17 = 1), but you can’t
really pass with a 6 count, and you have added a full loser for the ‘½’ loser (but don’t be surprised if 2♠
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goes one off if opener has a minimum).

Other Examples

a) ♠ AK962 b) ♠ AK962 c) ♠ AKQ32 d) ♠ AQ754 e) ♠ 7

♥7 ♥7 ♥ A643 ♥ 843 ♥ KQ74
♦ A854 ♦ A8542 ♦ 752 ♦ A53 ♦ AK9642
♣ Q52 ♣ A5 ♣9 ♣ K5 ♣ 73

♠ QJ84 ♠ QJ84 ♠ 8654 ♠ K942 ♠ 843

♥ Q852 ♥ Q852 ♥ K95 ♥5 ♥ A9632
♦K ♦K ♦8 ♦ K97642 ♦ 107
♣ J863 ♣ J863 ♣ A10862 ♣ 86 ♣ K54

f) ♠ 72 g) ♠ 6 h) ♠ 6
♥ KQ74 ♥ AK843 ♥ AK843
♦ AK964 ♦ A9542 ♦ A9542
♣ 73 ♣ Q8 ♣ A8

♠ 843 ♠ J742 ♠ J742

♥ A9632 ♥ QJ72 ♥ QJ72
♦ 107 ♦J ♦J
♣ K54 ♣ J752 ♣ J752

a) 1♠ - 2♠ (9 losers) - pass (½ loser added for ace-less hand); 9 + 7 = 16; 18 – 16 = 2♠. You should
eventually lose one heart, one diamond, three clubs (unless the opposition are kind to you with the club
suit).

b) 1♠ - 2♠ (9 losers) - 4♠ (5 losers): 9 + 5 = 14; 18 – 14 = 4♠. Similar to (a) but the slightly better club
situation in opener’s hand gives rise to only 5 losers.

c) 1♠ - 3♠ (8 losers) - 4♠ (6 losers); 8 + 6 = 14; 18 – 14 = 4♠. Only a combined 20 count, but ltc. enables the
excellent shape to be taken into account. Two diamond ruffs lead to ten tricks.

d) 1♠ - 4♠ (7 losers). Not a certainty. Also the bid makes it more difficult for the opposition to find their
heart fit.

e) 1♦ - 1♥ - 4♥. North can support responder’s heart suit. He has a 5-loser hand (in support). Add to
partner’s assumed 9 loser hand (the minimum to be able to respond) = 14. 18 – 14 = 4.

f) 1♦ - 1♥ - 3♥ - pass. North has a similar hand to (e) – same points, but with one loser more, is content to
bid 3♥. South with nothing extra to his assumed 9 losers, passes.

g) 1♥ - 2♥ - pass. South has a nine loser hand, opener has a six loser hand, so nine tricks should be the limit
(you will probably lose one spade, one diamond, two clubs.

h) 1♥ - 2♥ - 4♥. Similar to (g), but opener has a five loser hand, so 4♥. Using just limit bids you would not
reach game.

With examples (c) (d) and (e) above, using pure limit-bids, you would probably not have reached game.

Other Uses

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The ltc. can be used in response to partner’s overcall. Overcalls are assumed to be 8 loser hands, so partner
judges the appropriate raise based on this. A disadvantage of this approach is that in the modern game, overcalls
are becoming ultra-light. So only use after overcalls if your partner is disciplined in his overcalling methods.

Summary

The ltc. should be used as a guideline, particularly at lower levels in determining whether to raise to the two- or
three-level, or as opener, whether to try for game (possibly via a trial bid). Don’t go to excesses with the ltc.

AFH

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