Bridge: Oct. 29, 2023
Many players use the “Law of Total Tricks” to make competitive decisions. The Law states that the total number of trumps each side has in its best trump suit equals the total number of tricks available. Today’s North-South have nine spades, East-West have 10 diamonds. So, 19 tricks should be won at spade and diamond contracts.
In a team match, both East-West pairs saved at five diamonds over North-South’s four spades. At one table, South assessed the total number of trumps accurately: He doubled five diamonds, reasoning that if he could win 11 tricks at spades, he would be plus 500 on defense, a decent result. Nor was he sure of making five spades. As it happened, North-South were only plus 100.
At the other table, South doubted that he would get rich against five diamonds doubled; he tried for plus 650 at five spades.
West led a diamond, and East won and returned a diamond. South ruffed in dummy and took the A-K of trumps. When West discarded, South drew the missing trump, cashed his A-K of hearts and led the ace and a low club. East took the king and jack for down one.
“The Law was off by one,” South said.
It was off by two. On the second diamond, South must pitch a club from dummy. If East shifts to a trump, South takes the A-K-Q, unblocks his A-K of hearts and leads to dummy’s six of trumps to pitch three clubs on the hearts.
The LOTT is more accurate in partscore deals. It often breaks down at higher levels. Moreover, deals are played at the table, not in theory.
East dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S 6 4 3 2
H Q J 10 5 3
D 9
C Q 6 3
WEST
S 8
H 9 7 6 4 2
D K 5 4 2
C 8 7 5
EAST
S 10 9 7
H 8
D A Q J 8 6 3
C K J 10
SOUTH
S A K Q J 5
H A K
D 10 7
C A 9 4 2
East South West North
1 D Dbl 3 D Pass
Pass 3 S Pass 4 S
5 D 5 S All Pass
Opening lead — D 2
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