Shape and losersshow the way

Laurence J. Peter, a Canadian educator and author, wrote, “Real, constructive mental power lies in the creative thought that shapes your destiny.”

Regular readers will know that I am an ardent supporter of the Losing Trick Count. When you hit a fit with partner, it gives the shape — or distribution — of a hand its true value. Look at the North hand. What would you respond after partner opens one spade?

Using the LTC, you add your losers to partner's and subtract from 24. That tells you how many tricks you rate to win. You count losers by looking at the first three cards in each suit. Also, deduct one loser for a 10-card or better fit. So, the North hand has only six losers. A minimum one-ofa-major opening typically has seven losers. Six plus seven is 13. Subtracting that from 24 tells North that 11 tricks should be makable. Thus North, despite his low point-count, should respond four clubs, a splinter bid showing a singleton or void in that suit. Then South has only one loser! Why? Because he can ruff his club losers in partner's hand and knows of a 10-card fit. It is probably a grand-slam deal.

South immediately uses two doses of Blackwood before jumping to seven spades.

That contract is cold. Even if spades are 2-0, declarer takes two spades, two hearts, one diamond, one club, three club ruffs in the dummy and four red-suit ruffs in his hand.

At Bridge Base Online, three pairs bid to six spades and 12 stopped in game!