Jennbridge: Losing Trick Count in Santa Clara

We had a lively tournament over the weekend in Santa Clara.  The big event is always the two-day All Western Open Pairs.  The first day is a Qualifier and roughly half of the field survives to play in the Final on day two.  I have a lot of material from this event on slam bidding, preempting, defending notrump contracts and great plays.  I'll start with some hands which are good demonstrations of Losing Trick Count.

1.  1st session, Sat. afternoon, board 29.

My partner, Larry Hansen, heard me open 1♣  in the East seat after North had passed.  South passed and he was looking at a nice hand:

♠	8
♥	A 10 8 5 3
♦	A J
♣	A K 9 8 3

He responded 1♥, I rebid 1♠ and he bid 2♦, 4th-suit-forcing (to game).  I now bid 2♥ and it was Larry's call.  After a cuebid elicited nothing interesting from me, he bid RKC.  Learning that I had two controls he bid 6♥.  A heart was led.

All Western Open Pairs, Afternoon Session 1 of 4

Board 29 North Deals Both Vul	♠ Q 5 4 3 ♥ 9 6 ♦ K 8 6 5 2 ♣ J 7
♠ 8 ♥ A 10 8 5 3 ♦ A J ♣ A K 9 8 3	N W E S	♠ A K 7 6 ♥ K 4 2 ♦ 10 4 3 ♣ Q 4 2
	♠ J 10 9 2 ♥ Q J 7 ♦ Q 9 7 ♣ 10 6 5

EW 6♥; EW 6♣; EW 5N; W 3♠; E 2♠; EW 2♦; Par −1430

It was a fine, lay-down slam.  Although my hand (East) had a lot of losers, I had 12 points so I opened.  Larry had 5 losers, or, only 3 1/2, using LTC adjustments which subtract 1/2 loser for each ace. However you count your losers, his hand was slam-worthy once a fit was located.

It seemed like a routine slam to bid and I was surprised to receive 28.5 matchpoints out of 38.  Perhaps some pairs only counted points (25) instead of using losing trick count and consequently failed to properly evaluate their hand.

2.  2nd session, Sat. evening, board 22.

In the evening session I sat North and heard two passes before RHO opened 1♣.  

♠	A J 8 7 5
♥	K 10 9
♦	A 9 8 3
♣	J

I overcalled 1♠ and partner jumped to 3♣, showing a 4-card limit raise in spades.  RHO passed and I paused to consider my bid.  Although I only had 13 high card points and 7 losers opposite a passed hand, I arguably had only 6 losers, if I adjusted for aces.  Partner should have 8 losers for his invitational bid so we should be able to make a game.  I knew it might be close, but decided to jump to 4♠.  It went pass, pass and RHO doubled. 

All Western Open Pairs, Evening Session 2 of 4

Board 22 East Deals E-W Vul	♠ A J 8 7 5 ♥ K 10 9 ♦ A 9 8 3 ♣ J
♠ 4 ♥ Q J 8 ♦ K Q J 4 ♣ A K 9 7 4	N W E S	♠ Q 10 6 ♥ 7 6 5 3 ♦ 10 7 5 2 ♣ 8 6
	♠ K 9 3 2 ♥ A 4 2 ♦ 6 ♣ Q 10 5 3 2

NS 5♠; S 2♥; NS 1N; NS 2♣; N 1♥; EW 1♦; Par +450

I got a club lead and a trump switch.  I then ruffed a couple of diamonds and ruffed out the second club honor, enabling me to pitch one of my losers on a club while East ruffed in.  Not surprisingly, we received 37 out of 38 matchpoints.

Slightly more than half of the field bid game and those who made 5 were well rewarded with scores of 31 out of 38 matchpoints.  It is not difficult to make 5 as you have the entries to ruff all of your diamonds and then execute a loser on loser play at the end:  pitching your losing heart on the good club as East ruffs with your trump loser.

3.  2nd session, Final, Sun. evening, bd. 23.

Although we were only slightly above average in both sessions of the Final, I took a look at a board where we received an unexpectedly good score.  Holding the N-S cards, our opponents failed to get to the optimum contract of 4S.  Their score of 170 gave us 21 of 25 matchpoints.

All Western Open Pairs, Evening Session 4 of 4

Board 23 South Deals Both Vul	♠ K J 9 6 5 2 ♥ 7 ♦ 10 7 5 ♣ A K 2
♠ — ♥ Q J 10 8 6 ♦ Q 8 6 ♣ Q 10 9 4 3	N W E S	♠ A 8 4 3 ♥ A K 2 ♦ J 2 ♣ J 8 7 6
	♠ Q 10 7 ♥ 9 5 4 3 ♦ A K 9 4 3 ♣ 5

NS 4♠; EW 2♥; NS 3♦; EW 2♣; Par +620

After the North hand opens 1♠, South, with his 7 loser hand, should make a concerted effort to get to game.  There are only 20 high card points between the two hands, but a 7-loser hand opposite a 7-loser hand should make game once a fit is located.  Most of the field bid the game.

See you at the table!