The law of total tricks

/ Sunil Khanna

The law of total tricks states that in a competitive bid, 

The total number of cards in each partnership’s trump suit is equal to the number of “total tricks” that either side can win in a suit contract.

This theory is called THE LAW is used in part score rounds. This is an empirical assumption devoid of any mathematical proof but is professed by Larry Cohen in his book To Bid or Not To Bid. His advice, DO NOT apply this law beyond 3 or 4 level.

e.g. NS together have 8 Trumps and EW together have 9 Trumps then what it means that if NS is declarer then they will 8 tricks and if EW declare they can get 9 tricks.

The Law can help a partnership in following manner:

  • It allows you to keep your bidding at par with your number of trumps and prevents you from over bidding. Alternatively, this law helps you bid over interference a level up.
  • It also helps you in pushing up your opponent’s bid. Remember if your opponents are short in winning declared tricks, you get points as they are penalised. Don’t let them declare bids at very low levels in partscore. 
  • Don’t compete when the opponent is already bidding at level 3 and you have 8 trumps.
  • Alternatively, if the opponents stop at level 2. Assume that they have 8 trumps between them. Try to lure them to bid a level higher. It will help you defeat them and collect penalty points.
  • The Law can also help you decide when your partner bids a weak pre-emptive bid or a weak overcall. It lets you know that he has 6 cards in his suit. If you have 3 cards of your partner’s bid suit don’t hesitate bidding at level 3 or with 4 cards at level 4.
The law of total tricks. 4!h over a a weak preemptive opening of 3!h which shows total 10 trumps but overall weak combined strength.

Note: Caution is advised under following situations

  • If you are vulnerable, you are susceptible to a double by opponent. Go one level less, here.
  • When you feel opponents have high card trump suit, bid one level less, preferably.
  • Pay attention to your distribution. A flatter more balanced hand is a disadvantage. Your trump taking ability will be lower in a flatter hand. e.g 5341 distribution is better than 5332. Hand having 4333 distribution is most