The Losing Trick Count - Facts sheet

Losing tricks are counted for the first 3 cards in each suit.
Therefore you can have at the most 4 x 3 = 12 losers in your hand and 2 x 12 = 24 losers in the combined hands. (the 13th card is excluded from the count)
Some examples :

♠ K 7 4
♥ Q J 6
♦ J 10 3

♣ K 9 6 2

9 losers

♠ 7 4
♥ K 9 7 5 2
♦ A 8 3

♣ Q J 6

8 losers

♠ A Q 7 4
♥ 9 5
♦ Q J 8 3

♣ K 8 2

7 losers

♠ K Q 4
♥ A Q 5
♦ J 10 8 3

♣ K Q 2

6 losers

♠ 9 4
♥ K Q 9 7 6 5
♦ A 10 8 3 2

♣ -

5 losers

The actual number of losers in both hands is substracted from 24 (the maximun number of losers possible). This shows the number of tricks you may make :

24 losers - 16 losers =   8 winners   >   Part score likely
24 losers - 14 losers = 10 winners   >   Game is likely
24 losers - 12 losers = 12 winners   >   Small Slam is likely
Counting losers in your hand :
The Losing Trick Count assesses your hand both in terms of High Card strength and hand shape.
More High Card Points   >   less losers
More unbalanced shape   >   less losers
Bids can therefore usually be made based on your hand's loser count alone !
But in general it is best to look at both points count and losers in your hand.

LTC counts for the common Opening bids and Responses are listed below.
Use them to determine you own bids and to assess the losers in your Partner's hand.

Opening bid Losers HCP
Equivalent
Losers Responder's bid
Weak 2 Opening (with 6+card suit) 7-8 6-10 8-9 Weak response (1NT, Single raise)
1♥ - 2♥ - 3♥ - > Pass = 9, 4♥ = 8 losers
Open with 1 in suit 7 10-12 8 May bid new suit at the 2 level
Or "Max. Pass" : jump raise Partner's suit,
bid 2NT or bid 5-card suit at 2-level
Minimum 1 opening
Pass after a single raise response
7 13-15 7 Jump raise partner's major
(Ogust 2NT after a Weak 2 Opening)
Strong 1 opening
Invite Game after a single raise response
6 16-18 6 Jump raise partner's major
Consider 4NT if Opener bids to 4 only
Maximum 1 opening
Bid Game after a single raise response
5 19-21 5 Bid Slam or Blackwood
Game forcing 2♣ opening 4-3 22+ 4-3 Bid Slam or Blackwood

Common borderline cases :

  1. With 13+ points regardless of losers : always make an Opening bid
    With 12 points and 7 losers : make an Opening bid
    With 12 points and 8+ losers : do not open the bidding

  2. With 11+ points regardless of losers : you may respond with a new suit at the 2-level
    With 10 points and 8 losers : you may respond with a new suit at the 2-level
    With 10 points and 9+ losers : do not respond with a new suit at the 2-level

Raises of the Opener's suit based on the LTC :
(Losers shown in brackets)

Opener Reponder Opener Reponder LTC
1♥ (7) 2♥ (8-9*) Pass - 7 + 8 = 15
1♥ (6) 2♥ (9) 3♥ Pass 6 + 9 = 15
1♥ (6) 2♥ (8) 3♥ 4♥ 6 + 8 = 14
1♥ (5) 2♥ (8-9) 4♥ - 5 + 9 = 14
* A weak Responder can occasionally have 10 losers.


Raises of the Responder's suit based on the LTC :

Opener Reponder Opener Reponder LTC
1♦ (7) 1♠ (8-9) 2♠ Pass 7 + 8 = 15
1♦ (7) 1♠ (7) 2♠ 4♠ 7 + 7 = 14
1♦ (7) 1♠ (5) 2♠ 6♠# 7 + 5 = 12
1♦ (6) 1♠ (9)3♠ Pass 6 + 9 = 15
1♦ (6) 1♠ (8) 3♠ 4♠ 6 + 8 = 14
1♦ (6) 1♠ (6) 3♠ 6♠# 6 + 6 = 12
1♦ (5) 1♠ (8-9) 4♠ Pass 5 + 8 = 13
1♦ (5) 1♠ (7) 4♠ 6♠# 5 + 7 = 12
# or bid 4NT Blackwood

Bidding Guide

© 2013 Michael Furstner