Sunday, August 18, 2013

Jennbridge: Poker, Florida bridge & Losing Trick Count

Back after a summer hiatus. Catching up with my correspondence, I have heard from Florida bridge teachers, received inquiries on losing trick count and have even heard from poker players!

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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!