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**I love those Florida bridge teachers! They're quite enthusiastic about losing trick account. Here are a couple of recent comments:
I would love to use your material. After your series appeared in the Bridge Bulletin, my partner and I used the principles and greatly improved our bidding. I teach losing trick count with my beginners because I believe it gives them the tools necessary to determine those tricky good 9 and 10 point hands. Most catch on.
I was delighted with your articles on losing trick count. Do you live anywhere close to Florida? Do you conduct seminars yourself?
** I have been asked about the different versions of losing trick count floating around. All I can really say is that the system I use is simple and it works! At the table, in the heat of battle, we need a system that is quick and easy to apply--as well as one that improves bidding accuracy.
Here is an example. What do you respond with this hand when partner opens 1♠?
♠J1094
♥K2
♦10
♣AJ10865
You go into evaluation mode. At first glance, it is a nice-looking hand, but has only 9 high card points. You pause and count your losers.
The hand has only 7 losers! (3 in spades, 1 in hearts, 1 in diamonds and 2 in clubs) This makes the hand worth a game force opposite partner's 1♠ opening. That decided, you think about your possible bids and eventually determine that your singleton diamond may be the feature of greatest interest to partner. Accordingly, you jump to 4♦, a splinter bid showing shortness in diamonds, along with spade support.
Partner, holding the following hand, is delighted with this information, as the only weakness in his hand is diamonds.
♠AKQ85
♥AQ963
♦94
♣7
Partner's powerful 4 1/2 loser hand is more than suitable for slam and, after checking for aces with blackwood, the fine contract of 6♠ is reached.
♠J1094
♥K2
♦10
♣AJ10865
♠AKQ85
♥AQ963
♦94
♣7
It would be hard to find a line of play where this slam would not make. This great 24-point slam is easy to bid when you use losing trick count!
Hope you're having a great summer--would love to hear from you with comments or questions!
My email address: jennife574@aol.com
See you at the table!
