This Week in Bridge
(621) Suit Play: Types of Losers
© AIB Robert S. Todd
Level: 3 of 10 robert@advinbridge.com
General
When we play a hand in a suit contract, then we tend to focus on our numbers of losers. We usually count (or approximate) these losers from the long trump side and use the other hand as an asset for helping us dispose of these losers. But not all losers are equally difficult to get rid of. Here, we look at the different types of losers we may have and which we are most likely to lose, and which we may have a chance of escaping.
Types of Losers
There are a variety of ways that we may classify a potential loser:
1st Round Losers – x, or xx, or xxx, etc. These are tricks that can be taken immediately by the opponents.
2nd Round Losers – xx, Ax, etc.. (second of these cards). These are tricks that can be lost in the 2nd round of the play.
3rd Round Losers – xxx, Axx, Kxx, Qxx (third of these cards). These are tricks that can be lost on the 3rd round of the play.
Later – These later cards (like the ♣6 in the ♣AKQ6) are actually not likely to be losers, and we generally assume that we will find a way not to lose them.
Immediate (or Certain) Losers
This is a loser that we cannot get rid of if they lead the suit. A loser in a suit like xx or xxx is an immediate or certain loser. By contract, a loser in a suit like Ax or Kxx, then this is not an immediate loser, because even if their opponents lead this suit, they will not (may not) be able to take that trick immediately. Immediate losers are extremely hard to dispose of.
When we have a potential loser, but it cannot be taken immediately, this gives us big advantages. It takes the opponents more time (tricks) to work their way down to them. Our later losers give us more time to dispose of them before the opponents take these tricks. This makes them less likely to actually be lost.
Example 1
♠ AQxxxxx
♥ xx
♦ xx
♣ xx
Here, each of these doubleton losers is very likely to be lost. We need partner to have either the Ace, King, a singleton, or void for us to be able to avoid losing these six tricks.
Example 2
♠ AQxxxxx
♥ xxx
♦ xx
♣ x
When we move a “2nd round” Club loser to a “3rd round” Heart loser, we increase the chance of avoiding losing that third Heart. There are more holdings from partner (doubleton or Queen) that may help us avoid that loser.
Example 3
♠ AQxxxxx
♥ xxx
♦ xxx
♣ - -
When we move the 1st round Clubs loser to a 3rd round Diamond loser, we again increase the chance of avoiding losing this trick. This is an even better hand.
Conclusion
When you are making a plan for how to get rid of some of your losers (and try to make your contract), don’t assume that every potential loser is the same. The later our loser is, the more time we have to try and eliminate it (and the more holdings from partner are likely to help us). Keep this in mind when you are evaluating your hand and when you are constructing your plan for how to best play the hand.