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The following mock-ups (colours may not be true) give an impression of the Losing Trick Count booklet. The actual page size is A5. There are 32 pages. Price £5.

Back Cover

Front Cover

          The value of the Losing Trick Count lies in the
          precision it adds to the bidding of shapely hands
          when the partnership has a trump fit.

         The booklet is a complete update of the edition
          that was first published in 1984.It covers the use
         of the Losing Trick Count for opening bids and
         responses, for rebids, for pre-emptive bids, for
         strong hands, for defence with shapely hands and
         countermeasures by the opening side (coping with
         interference). It retains the simplicity of the earlier
         version but includes revisions, particularly of the
         competitive situations.

£5 net ISBN 0 9522280 2 5

♣ ♦ ♥ ♠

THE
LOSING TRICK COUNT

by
David Griffiths

Revised

                   CHAPTER 12
                  DEFENCE WITH THREE-SUITED HANDS
                         THE TAKE-OUT DOUBLE

The original version of the Losing Trick Count suggested that the take-out double should be made on hands of six or fewer losers but most modern players would make the bid on seven loser hands. Each of the hands (a), (b), or (c) would be suitable for a double of opponent's 1♥.

a) ♠ A Q 6 4
       ♥ 2
       ♦ K 9 6 2
       ♣ K 10 4

        6 losers

b)   ♠ A Q 6 4
        ♥ 6 2
         ♦ K J 8 2
         ♣ K J 3

7 losers

c)   ♠ A Q 6 4
        ♥ 6 4 2
         ♦ A Q 8
         ♣ K J 3

7 losers

If the third hand passes, the doubler's partner must bid, even with no high cards, so he must make a jump response if he has some values. The original version of the LTC recommended a jump response on eight or fewer losers.

A suggested improvement to this method that the reader might consider is, when partner has doubled opponent's bid for take-out, simply pretend that he has opened with one of your best suit and "raise" accordingly. For example if partner has doubled 1♥:

     ♠ 8 7 4 2
       ♥ 9 6 3
       ♦ 10 9 6 3
       ♣ 7 6

     11 losers
    Bid 1♠ (forced)

     ♠ K 8 4 2
       ♥ 9 6 3
       ♦ A 9 6 3
       ♣ 7 6

       9 losers
       Bid 2♠

     ♠ K Q 4 2
       ♥ 9 6 3
       ♦ A 9 6 3
       ♣ 7 6

      8 losers
      Bid 3♠

     ♠ K Q 4 2
       ♥ A 6 3
       ♦ K 9 6 3
       ♣ J 6

    7 losers
    Cue bid 2♥
    Bid spades later