Editing Law of total tricks (section)

==Examples==
For example, suppose that North-South have an eight-card heart fit and East-West have an eight-card spade fit.  The total number of trumps is 16 so the "law" says the total number of tricks is also 16.  That is, if North-South can take eight tricks playing in hearts, then East-West can take 16 - 8 = 8 tricks playing in spades; if North-South can take nine tricks in hearts, LoTT says East-West can take only seven tricks in spades.

{{BridgeHandNWES
|Label =
|Lead =
|K&thinsp;Q&thinsp;8&thinsp;5&thinsp;3|K&thinsp;4&thinsp;3|7|J&thinsp;10&thinsp;4&thinsp;3
|10&thinsp;7|A&thinsp;8&thinsp;7&thinsp;6&thinsp;5|J&thinsp;9&thinsp;4|K&thinsp;Q&thinsp;9
|J&thinsp;4|10&thinsp;9&thinsp;2|K&thinsp;Q&thinsp;10&thinsp;3|A&thinsp;8&thinsp;7&thinsp;2
|A&thinsp;9&thinsp;6&thinsp;2|Q&thinsp;J|A&thinsp;8&thinsp;6&thinsp;5&thinsp;2|6&thinsp;5}} In the [[contract bridge diagram|diagram]], N-S have 9 spades and E-W 8 hearts combined. N-S can make 4 spades (conceding two clubs and heart ace) while E-W can make only 1 heart on a good defense (which takes a trump from QJ, two spades, diamond ace and two diamond ruffs)—the law holds, as the total tricks available is 10+7=17.

Note, however, how minor card rearrangements affect the law:
{|
|
#If the N-S diamonds were divided 4-2 instead of 5-1, with clubs consequently divided 3-3, the available total tricks would be only 8 for N-S + 8 for E-W = 16
#If, on the other hand, the E-W spades were divided 3-1 instead of 2-2 (with appropriate minor-suit rearrangement), they could make 2{{Hearts}}, while N-S could still make 4{{Spades}}, giving 18 total tricks.
|}

{{Clear}}

===Consequences===
There are a number of bridge conventions that take advantage of this principle. For example, [[Bergen raises]] following an opening bid of one of a major (using a 5-card major system):

* 3 of the major = 4-card support and 0-6 HCP
* 3C = 4-card support and 7-9 points
* 3D = 4-card support and 10-12 HCP

In 2002, [[Anders Wirgren]] called the accuracy of the "law" into question, saying it works on only 35-40% of deals. However, Larry Cohen remains convinced it is a useful guideline, especially when adjustments are used properly. Mendelson (1998) finds that it is "accurate to within one trick on the vast majority of hands"