Losing-Trick Count - Refinements

Refinements

Thinking that the method tended to overvalue unsupported queens and undervalue supported jacks, Eric Crowhurst and Andrew Kambites refined the scale, as have others:

• AQ doubleton = ½ loser according to Ron Klinger.
• Kx doubleton = 1½ losers according to others.
• AJ10 = 1 loser according to Bernard Magee.
• KJ10 = 1½ losers according to Bernard Magee.
• Qxx = 3 losers (or possibly 2.5) unless trumps.
• Subtract a loser if there is a known 9-card trump fit.

In his book The Modern Losing Trick Count, Ron Klinger advocates adjusting the number of loser based on the control count of the hand believing that the basic method undervalues an ace but overvalues a queen and undervalues short honor combinations such as Qx or a singleton king. Also it places no value on cards jack or lower.