Blum on Bridge Obey the Law
	The Law of Total Tricks is really nothing new. It is the only subject of two excellent books by Larry Cohen entitled, "To Bid or Not to Bid - The Law of Total Tricks" followed by its sequel, "Following the Law." However, the idea was first presented in this country in a 1969 article in The Bridge World by an unknown author, Jean Vernes. Three decades later, the concept of the 'law' is endorsed worldwide. Its application becomes most apparent during the course of preemptive or competitive bidding. Cohen states in his books that "the total number of tricks available on any deal is approximately equal to the total number of trumps." Practically, it simply says that you should always bid to the level equal to the combined number of trumps held by your side. Let me also add that if N-S has an 8-card spade fit and E-W has an 8-card heart fit, there should be 16 available tricks. With an approximate equality of high-card strength, both sides should be able to fulfill their contract at the two-level. So it behooves both sides to force their opponents to the three-level for a minus score. Shall we see if this really works in real life? Assume you pick up a hand with seven hearts. With a weak hand you probably will open the bidding with a preemptive three hearts. There are six hearts remaining in the other three hands. Should they be divided equally, each player would hold two hearts. Thus, you and partner share nine trumps. Go with a nine trump and you have contracted to bring home nine tricks. The law worked. Let us take another example for those who open weak two-bids. For those not accustomed to opening a weak (preemptive) two-bid, the requirements are similar to a three-bid preempt except that you hold six cards in a particular suit and about 5-10 points. Say you open two spades. Seven spades are outstanding, and if divided equally among the other three players, each would hold two-and-a-third of the suit. Once again six plus two equals eight. Success! The law worked. It's becoming common practice for many experts to open a weak two-bid with only five cards in the proposed trump suit (KQJ43 or better, or else). Should this occur, there would be eight trumps left to be divided among the other three hands. Eight divided by three equals two- and-two-thirds. Adding that figure to five, we arrive at a total of seven-and-two-thirds. That's close enough to the eight tricks needed to make our contract. So a five trump weak two-bid, especially non-vulnerable, is a viable undertaking. The responder also uses the law to his advantage by raising partner's preempt by adding the number of trumps he truly holds to opener's count. If you, as responder, hold three trumps you may raise partner's two or three bid to another level as you are only expected to be holding two trump. When partner makes a weak jump overcall, a common match point bid holding a six card suit and less than six points, you may raise his call a level if you have three cards in his suit, as once again he only counts on you for a two-card holding. A preemptive bid is a gambling bid. You are betting that by competing against the opponents your minus score, when you have been set, will be less than the opponents plus score should they win the auction. Your action is also predicated on the vulnerability of the two sides. There is a common expression in the bridge world that 'the five-level is for the opponents.' It's generally a pretty fair guide, my friend, to prevent you from going overboard. Unfortunately this article is far too condensed to fairly evaluate "The Law of Total Tricks." Adjustments must be made, for example, when you and partner have a double fit or you have too many hcps in the opponent's suit. Adjustments are not violations but should be treated as exceptions. Cohen and his favorite partner, Marty Bergen, discovered by researching tournament deals that not only has there been a tremendous increase in the frequency of the preemptive bid, but with the newfound knowledge of the law, the success ratio is about 65 percent. Aggressive bidding is a proven winner. When you decide to take action, use discipline and remember to obey the law.