2. THE MODERN LOSING TRICK COUNT.

The Losing Trick Count (LTC) is a way of measuring the trick-taking potential of a trump contract AFTER partnership has found a SOUND FIT.
As always, it is imperative that you do NOT abuse the system and there are the following considerations to NOTE :-

1. The LTC must NOT be used for standard opening bids of 1 in a suit. It is total points and NOT losers that make a 1 opening.
2. The LTC does NOT operate for NT contracts.
3. The LTC does NOT operate on MISFIT hands.

How it works :-
COUNT YOUR LOSERS
ADD PARTNER’S LOSERS
DEDUCT THIS TOTAL FROM 18.
This indicates the level to which you should bid.
The LTC operates most efficiently on a 9 card trump fit but it is OK to use it on 8 card
fits if the support is headed by at lease a Q or J10.
ESTIMATING YOUR OWN LOSERS.
1. Every card after the 3 rd card in a suit is a winner
2. In a 3 card or longer suit, the A-K-Q are winners. All others are losers.
3. In a doubleton, the Ace and King are winners, any lower cards are losers.
4. For a singleton, the Ace is a winner, all other cards are losers.
5. There are never more than 3 losers in a suit
6. There are never any more losers in a suit than the number of cards in the suit.
ESTIMATING PARTNER’S LOSERS. (AS OPENER)
1 Calculate losers from the strength partner has revealed during the bidding
2 Minimum opening hand 7 losers
3 Medium opening hand 6 losers
4 Maximum opening hand of 1 5 losers
5 Benji 2C opening hand 4 losers
6 Benji 2D (GF) opening hand 3 losers
7 4NT (asking WHICH aces) 2 losers.
ESTIMATING PARTNER’S LOSERS. (AS RESPONDER)
1. Simple 1 level raise 9 losers
2. Change of suit at 2 level 8/9 losers (Min)
3. Invitational limit raise 8 losers
4. pre-empt to game 7 losers.
There are of course, more Loser Expectancy tables for the Various Actions that can be employed, like those of the Weak Twos, Multi 2 Comvention, the weak or strong or 2 suited Overcalls, and others. There are also further adjustments to the LTC for the more and well experienced. We will deal with these in more advanced Courses.

3. When to Double for penalties below the level of game. Most juicy doubles so long as not abused.

REQUIREMENTS.
1 At least 20 HCP in the combined hands. (
2 MISFIT with partner.
3 Strength and Length in opponent’s trump suit.
TO QUALIFY STRENGTH apply Rule of 10
TO QUALIFY LENGTH apply Rule of 12
RULE OF 10
Add your EXPECTED trump tricks to the number of tricks your opponents are trying to make. If the answer is 10 or more your strength qualifies for a juicy penalty Double.
RULE OF 12
Add your NUMBER of TRUMP CARDS to the number of tricks your opponents are trying to make. If the answer is 12or more, your length qualifies for a juicy penalty

4. Aide Memoire Intermediate Class Private Practice Jan. 26 2012.
A. ASSESMENT OF HAND B. DEFENCE TO

WEAK TWOS C. ROMAN JUMPS
A Assesment of Hand.
Normally a Mini opening is 7 loser hand, a MEDIUM one is 6 loser hand a MAXI 5 loser
Add the estimated losers in the combined hands and subtract the answer from 24.
This will provide you with the level of tricks you are likely to make.
Watch out for useful Cover cards. When your hand contains an Ace, King or Queen in partner’s long suit, subtract one more loser. Base a doubtful game decision on that. IT IS SAFE.
2. Apply the Suit – Quality Test, when making an overcall. Normally this would be a hand of 6 to 8 losers; But so long as you adopt the UCB Convention, do not hesitate to make an overcall with few points, when the Suit Quality is sound.
3. As an overcaller if you Double first than bid you suit, you are promising no more than a 5 loser hand. If you Double first than double jump with a change of suit (to what partner bid) you promise no more that 3 losers. This method is useful when you play Michaels Cue Bids and therefore unable to cue bid opp’s suit with 20 pts plus first or second control in their suit.
4. Don’t forget to use the Truscott 2NT after a double (See notes) and to pre- empt to one higher level if weak.

B DRAGON DEFENCE TO WEAK 2 BIDS
1. With 13 to 15 HCP and no 5 carder, AND SHORT IN THEIR SUIT, make an ordinary Take-out Double
2. With 16 to 19 HCP and no 5 carder, AND SHORT IN THEIR SUIT, make a 3 CLUB bid for TO
3. With less than 13 Total Points and a long suiit (use Suit Quality Test) bid the labensohl 2nt.( partner must alert). With no intervention Advancer must relay to 3clubs and you bid your longer suit.
4. With 13 plus Total Points bid your suit. Partner now knows that you have an opening hand. 7 or less losers.
5. This lebensohl 2nt is also applied by the Advancer when partner as overcaller made a take out Double. If he has less than 9 or 10 pts but has a long suit , he uses the leb 2nt. Now overcaller must bid 3c and Advancer will show his suit. In the unlikely event that Advancer really had 2 stoppers in opp’s suit as well as 9 or 10 pts. He can leave the Double in.

6.
. C ROMAN JUMP OVERCALLS
1. These jump overcalls are made to show 2 suited hands. They are best used in Conjunction with the UNT Conv.
2. A jump bid by overcaller promises 5 -5 cards in Suit bid and the suit next in rank – omitting the suit bid by Opps. These bids have a lower limit of 5CP (mainly in suits shown) and an upper limit of 15 HCP.