In his book, “Points Schmoints,” Marty Bergen states that length is more important than strength.

For example, if you are in a spade contract and you hold AKQJ10 of spades you will take five tricks in that suit. However, if you hold AKxxxxxx of spades, you will probably take six or seven tricks. There are many systems which try to emulate that philosophy. In addition to being great people, Ann and Jim Logan are excellent players who consistently rank near the top on any given day. In addition to being excellent players, they play the Precision System which keeps them from getting into difficult situations. I also prefer a big club system so that any bid other than 1 Club limits your HCP. The following hands show where losing trick count can be more beneficial than simply counting points. Remember what Bergen preaches - if you just count points you will only be a point counter not a bridge player.

RULE OF 20

In my copy of the Encyclopedia of Bridge (1994 edition) the Rule of 20 is not listed as a convention. I am not a big fan of this gimmick bid and the following is a perfect example why. In a Swiss event, I hold in second seat: S-Jxx, H-AQx, D-Axxxx, C-Ax. RHO opens 1 Spade and I ponder my options; pass is out of the question, I can’t make a take-out double with two clubs, and 1 NT leaves me vulnerable to the opponents running five spade tricks if my partner puts me in 3 NT. I decide on an underbid of 2 Diamonds, and after LHO passes, partner bids 2 NT. Adam Kaplan has about 10 points with at least one spade stopper, so I bid 3 NT. Warned away from a spade lead, RHO leads a club. Adam wins the queen in hand and when hearts break 3-3, nine tricks roll in. Adam held: S-AQx, H-Kxxx, D-xxx, C-Qxx. What did RHO open with you ask. How about: S-Kxxxx, H-Jxx, D-K, C-KJxx - YUK! An eight trick loser with no aces vulnerable is not to my liking. At the other table, our partner passes in first seat, my hand opens 1 NT and plays in 3 NT. LHO leads a club, low from dummy, and RHO puts in the jack which holds. Now, RHO makes the excellent play of the DK. Declarer holds off and RHO gets out with a club to declarer’s ace. Try as he might, declarer can take only eight tricks and we get a big IMP swing.

THIS ONE HURTS

In the recent Swiss event at Regency Oaks, I violated the losing trick count principle and our team paid dearly. In first seat I hold: S-AKJxx, H-AQxxx, D-xx, C-x, and I open 1 Spade. LHO (Charlotte Kartsonis) passes and partner (Ann Pullman) bids 2 Spades. RHO (Marion Ellingsen) passes and I bid 3 Diamonds (what I believe is help suit game try). Ann bids 3 Spades and I ponder my options. Should I bid my hearts or simply go to 4 Spades. But, I only have 14 HCP and Ann can’t have more than 7-9 HCP and three-card support, so I pass. Charlotte leads a spade and Ann tables the dummy: S-Qxx, H-xxxx, D-Qxx, C-Kxx. With the HK double on my right, 10 tricks are cold when a I pull trumps and lead a heart to my queen. My only hope at redemption is that John Bush and Dave Miller will not get to the cold game. But they do and what would have been a 1 IMP victory turns into a 5 IMP defeat. In the post-mortem, Charlotte points out that with a five-trick loser, her partners will probably be in game. Even if you go down, you have to be with the field. By the way, although Ann and I have only 21 HCP, our combined losing trick count is 14. Subtract 14 from 24 and we should take 10 tricks - we do. Just bid it Jim! How many ways can I say sorry to Ann, Linda Reeder, and Mary Ann Rank?

Sincerely, Jim Somma{easycomments}