Notes: Losing Trick Count

Reminder

Counting losers is a useful way of estimating the playing strength of a hand.

It is NEVER used for No Trump hands.

It ONLY applies after you have found at least an 8 card fit. 

Basic Guidelines

1. 1. There are never more than 3 losers in a suit. It is assumed that the 4th and longer cards will become winners.
   2. When looking at a suit, count as many losers as there are below the Q.

       
      Examples:

      1. AQ7 has one loser - the K.
      2. K72 has 2 losers - The A and Q.
      3. Also count one loser in the following examples:
         • AQ32
         • AQ532
         • AQ7432
   3. For a doubleton, count any loser below the K.
   4. For a singleton count one loser unless it is the A.

To Estimate Your Trick Potential

1. Count your losers.
2. Estimate your partner's losers.
3. Add together and take the total away from 24.  The answer is the number of tricks your partnership will probably make.

A CAUTION:
The losing trick count works best on unbalanced hands.  If both hands are relatively flat, they could be a mirror image, with crucial high card points falling on each other.

How to Assess Partner's Losers

Thus...following an opening of 1H

1. An opening hand, usually, is a 7 loser.
2. If responder has a fit and 7 losers. he/she can jump to game. 7+7=14. Subtract from 24 = 10 tricks.
3. With 8 losers in hand, and a fit, responder bids 3H. 8+7=15. Subtract from 24 = 9 tricks.
4. With 9 losers and a fit responder bids 2H.  9+7=16.  Subtract from 24 = 8 tricks.
5. HOWEVER if responder has 5 losers, and a fit, 5+7=12.  Subtract from 24 = 12 tricks.  A slam is possible and is worth exploring.