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Improvers

Improvers. Week 11 The Losing Trick Count (LTC). LTC. We have used mainly HCP for decisions on what to bid Works very well for NT contracts But not good enough for suit contracts We must consider the value of shape LTC allows us to evaluate all hands Giving more accurate suit bidding.

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Improvers

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  1. Improvers Week 11 The Losing Trick Count (LTC)

  2. LTC • We have used mainly HCP for decisions on what to bid • Works very well for NT contracts • But not good enough for suit contracts • We must consider the value of shape • LTC allows us to evaluate all hands • Giving more accurate suit bidding

  3. Calculating the LTC • Count up to 3 cards in each suit • More than 3 discount lowest • Any that are not A K or Q are losers • Singleton K is a loser • Doubleton Q is a loser • Bare Q is a ½ loser • Bare is Q without A K or J

  4. Calculate the LTC  A  J  T  4  3 • How many losers? • 2 • How many losers? • 1 • How many losers? • 2 • How many losers? • 1 • Total • 6  K  Q  J  3  2  4  3  3

  5. LTC • The lower the LTC the stronger the hand • Provided you find a fit! • A weak 1 of a suit opener would normally have an LTC of 7 • 1NT opener is very often 8 • Sometimes 7 with a good HCP count • So lets calculate the LTC for a number of hands • And look at the HCP count as well

  6. Calculate the LTC  A  J  T  4  3 • How many HCP? • 11 • How many  losers? • 2 • How many losers? • 1 • How many  losers? • 3 • How many  losers? • 0 • Total • 6  K  Q  J  3  2  4  3  2

  7. Calculate the LTC  J  T  5  4  3 • How many HCP? • 7 • How many  losers? • 3 • How many losers? • 1 • How many  losers? • 2 • How many  losers? • 1 • Total • 7  K  Q  J  3  2  4  3  3

  8. Calculate the LTC  A  K  Q  4  3 • How many HCP? • 15 • How many  losers? • 0 • How many losers? • 1 • How many  losers? • 2 • How many  losers? • 1 • Total • 4  K  Q  J  3  2  4  3  3

  9. Calculate the LTC  A  K  Q  4  3 • How many HCP? • 19 • How many  losers? • 0 • How many losers? • 0 • How many  losers? • 1 • How many  losers? • 1 • Total • 2  K  A  Q  J  3  2  4  3

  10. Calculate the LTC  Q  J  T  4  3 • How many HCP? • 9 • How many  losers? • 2 • How many losers? • 2 • How many  losers? • 2 • How many  losers? • 1 • Total • 7  Q  J  3  2  4  2  K  3

  11. Calculate the LTC  A  K  J  3 • How many HCP? • 18 • How many  losers? • 1 • How many losers? • 1 • How many  losers? • 3 • How many  losers? • 2 • Total • 7  K  Q  2  4  3  2  A  J  3

  12. Calculate the LTC  A  J  3 • How many HCP? • 17 • How many  losers? • 2 • How many losers? • 1 • How many  losers? • 2½ • How many  losers? • 2 • Total • 7½  K  Q  2  4  Q  3  2  A  J  3

  13. Calculate the LTC  A  J  3 • How many HCP? • 18 • How many  losers? • 2 • How many losers? • 1 • How many  losers? • 2 • How many  losers? • 2 • Total • 7  K  Q  2  J  Q  3  2  A  J  3

  14. Note • The Losing Trick Count is related to shape not point count

  15. LTC • We have a maximum of 12 losers • So does Partner • Total of 24 losers possible • In an agreed major: • With 14 losers between us game is on • With 15 game is unlikely • With 16 we want to stop at the 2 level • With 12 we should consider slam

  16. LTC • If partner opens 1 of a suit assume 7 losers • With a major suit fit and • 9 losers raise to 2 • 8 losers raise to 3 • 7 losers raise to 4

  17. Using LTC as responder  A  J  T  4  3 • LTC? • 6 • Partner opens 1 • Combined LTC is 13 or better • Bid? • 1 • If partner re-bids weakly bid 4 • I partner re-bids stronger bid 4NT  K  Q  J  3  2  4  3  3

  18. Using LTC as responder  T  9  5  4  3 • LTC? • 7 • Partner opens 1 • Combined LTC is 14 or better • Bid? • 4 • With only 5 HCP! • LTC takes account of shape  K  Q  4  3  2  4  3  3

  19. Using LTC as responder  Q  J  T  4  3 • LTC? • 8 • Partner opens 1 • Combined LTC is 13 or better • Bid? • 3 • Invitational • Partner can bid game with LTC 6  Q  J  3  2  4  3  2  K

  20. Using LTC as responder  A  K  J • LTC? • 7 • Partner opens 1 • Combined LTC is 14 or better • Bid? • 4 • With 18 HCP it looks great but too flat for more  K  Q  3  2  4  3  2  A  J  4

  21. Building up the picture • If you do not have a suit fit • Responder bids a different suit at the 1 level assume 9 losers • Responder bids a different suit at the 2 level assume 8 losers • Opener re-bids weakly still 7 • Opener re-bids strongly assume 6 • Responder re-bids weakly still 9 • Responder re-bids another suit assume 8 • Both of the pair should be re-assessing with each bid made

  22. Building up the picture • Opening bid assume LTC 7 • Weak response assume 9 • Weak re-bid still 7 • Invitational assume 8 • Opener can now decide whether to try game • The re-bid may be a LTC 6 1 2 P P 1 3 P P

  23. Building up the picture • Opening bid assume LTC 7 • Weak response assume 9 • Weak re-bid still 7 • If weak responder will decide which red suit to play at the 2 level • Any other bid would show LTC of 7 and keen to look for game 1 2 P P 1 P

  24. Building up the picture • Opening bid assume LTC 7 • Weak response assume 9 • Re-bid shows LTC of 6 and 5 ‘s • Responder bids 4 with LTC of 8 and 3 ‘s 1 3 P P 1 P

  25. Building up the picture • Opening bid assume LTC 7 • Weak response assume 9 • Opener’s re-bid is a reverse • Showing strong hand • LTC perhaps 6 more likely 5 • Forcing for 1 round • Responder should make a cheap re-bid with LTC of 9 • Stronger re-bid with LTC 8 or less 1 2 P P 1 P

  26. Building up the picture • Opening bid assume LTC 7 • Weak response assume 9 • Opener’s re-bid is a jump shift • Showing strong hand • LTC perhaps 6 more likely 5 • Forcing for 1 round • Responder should make a cheap re-bid with LTC of 9 • Stronger re-bid with LTC 8 or less 1 3 P P 1 P

  27. Building up the picture • Opening bid assume LTC 7 • New suit at 2 level response assume 8 • Strong re-bid reverse assume 5 • After a 2 level response and a strong re-bid the bidding must not stop at less than game 1 2 P P 2 P

  28. Building up the picture • So you build up a good idea of the capabilities of the 2 hands • To know when to go on • And when to stop • With a good LTC but low HCP try not to bale out into NT

  29. LTC - Summary • LTC is more accurate than HCP for suit contracts • It takes shape as well as strength into account • Much better for raising suit bids • 1 of a major, 2 of the same major is better if it shows 9 LTC rather than 6-9 HCP • 1 of a major, 3 of the same major showing 8 LTC is very useful • Remember the joint LTC for game is 14

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