Bridge lecture intermediate Hand evaluation loser tricks by

Bridge lecture – intermediate Hand evaluation – loser tricks by Milan Macura July 17, 2018

Standard evaluation methods High card points Loser tricks (LT) High card points + distributional points Playing tricks (PT)

Definition of a loser trick (LT) In theory (bidding): its a card which we are most likely to lose – missing honors In practice (when dummy comes down): its a card we are going to lose if partner is not covering it How do we count losers? We count 1 LT for every missing honor in the suit A, K or Q, which we are missing based on length in the suit

How to count the losers in one suit Singleton: Ace: no loser Any other: 1 loser

How to count the losers in one suit Singleton: A: no loser x: 1 loser Doubleton: AK: no losers Ax/Kx: 1 loser xx: 2 losers Qx: 2 losers

How to count the losers in one suit 3 cards: AKQ: no losers AKx/ AQx / KQx: 1 loser Axx / Kxx / Qxx: 2 losers xxx / Jxx: 3 losers

How to count the losers in one suit 3 cards: AKQ: no losers AKx/ AQx / KQx: 1 loser Axx / Kxx / Qxx: 2 losers xxx / Jxx: 3 losers 4+ cards: Axxx 2 losers AQxxx 1 loser 4 th/5 th card are never losers

Example of a full hand

When to use losers • Not with balanced hands • Sometimes with standard/semi unbalanced hands • Always with extreme hands

Lets play some boards

Board 25 - analysis Board: 25 Dealer: N VUL: EW ♠ 87 ♥ KJ 3 ♦ Q 98 ♣ QJ 1052 ♠ KQ 652 ♥ A 92 ♦ AJ 75 ♣ 6 N W E S ♠ AJ 93 ♥ 85 ♦ 642 ♣ A 843 ♠ 104 ♥ Q 10764 ♦ K 103 ♣ K 97 N E S W 1♠ pass 3♠ pass 4♠ pass Lead 4♡

Board 26 - analysis Board: 26 Dealer: E VUL: ALL ♠ Q 105 ♥ 864 ♦ 987652 ♣A N ♠ J 9 ♥ A 1053 ♦ K 43 ♣ J 1093 N W E S ♠ 43 ♥ J 72 ♦ AQJ ♣ Q 8752 ♠ AK 8762 ♥ KQ 9 ♦ 10 ♣ K 64 E S W 1♠ pass 2♠ pass 3♠ pass 4♠ pass Lead 2♣

Board 27 - analysis Board: 27 Dealer: S VUL: - ♠ Q 2 ♥ KJ 64 ♦ 763 ♣ KJ 105 N ♠ A 8643 ♥ 8752 ♦ K 5 ♣ 92 N E W S ♠ K 1075 ♥ 9 ♦ AQJ 104 ♣ A 76 ♠ J 9 ♥ AQ 103 ♦ 982 ♣ Q 843 E S W 1♢ pass 1♠ pass 3♠ pass 4♠ pass Lead ♣ 4

Board 28 - analysis Board: 28 Dealer: W VUL: NS ♠ AQJ 8 ♥ J 104 ♦ A 7652 ♣ 4 N ♠ 76 ♥ AK 85 ♦ K 103 ♣ 10876 E S ♠ 1093 ♥ 976 ♦ 98 ♣ AK 932 S W 1♢ N W E ♠ K 542 ♥ Q 32 ♦ QJ 4 ♣ QJ 5 pass 1♠ pass Lead A♣ 2♠

Remember – only evaluating your hand well makes you an expert player