Losing-Trick Count

In the card game contract bridge, the Losing-Trick Count (LTC) is a method of hand evaluation that is generally only considered suitable to be used in situations where a trump suit has been established and when shape and fit are more significant than high card points (HCP) in determining the optimum level of the contract. The method is generally not considered suitable for no trump or misfit hands;[1] also, the trump suit is generally considered to require at least eight cards in length with no partner holding fewer than three.[2]

However, the LTC method of hand evaluation has been used successfully to evaluate unbalanced and balanced opening hands, and overcalls, since 1938 (combined with ‘quick trick’ evaluation and defined biddable suits),[3] and by itself since 2017, before a fit and trump suit have been established based on the premise that a fit could usually be found later.[4]

Based on a set of empirical rules, the number of "losing tricks" held in each of the partnership's hands is estimated and their sum deducted from either 24 (the result is the number of tricks the partnership can expect to take when playing in their established suit, assuming normal suit distributions and assuming required finesses work about half the time) [1] or 18 (the result is the bidding level the partnership can expect to make their contract when playing in their established suit, assuming normal suit distributions and assuming required finesses work about half the time). F. Dudley Courtenay originally referred to the latter option as the “Rule of 18”.[5]

  1. ^ a b Klinger, Ron (2011). The Modern Losing Trick Count (2nd ed.). Sydney, Australia: Modern Bridge Publications. p. 13. ISBN 978-0-9587016-5-5.
  2. ^ Crowhurst, Eric; Kambites, Andrew (1992). Understanding Acol, The Good Bidding Guide. London: Victor Gollancz Ltd, in association with Peter Crawley. pp. 62–66. ISBN 0-575-05253-8.
  3. ^ Noall, William (1959). The Australian One Club System. Sydney, Australia: Angus and Robertson. pp. vii.
  4. ^ Lynch, Sean (2017). IMPERSPICUITY A Losing Trick Count Bridge Bidding System. Kindle book: Amazon. p. 17.
  5. ^ Courtenay, Dudley F. (1935). The Losing Trick Count - A book of card technique. pp. Chapter IV "The rule of 18". ISBN 9781447486480.