To read the first parts of this series of articles: Click Here
5) The Footprints
In Zar Points we don’t deal with misfits – we deal with “footprints” and controls. The “footprint” of a suit is the shorter side of the suit in both hands:
K x x x x x x has a footprint of 2
A x x x x has a footprint of 1
A x x x x x x has a footprint of 3
You see now how easy it becomes to evaluate the immediate losers using footprints (FP) and controls (CT):
If FP < CT, you have 0 immediate losers.
If FP = CT, you have min( 1, FP) losers (1 in most cases; 0 with void against xx(xxx) ).
If FP > CT, you have min( 2, FP) losers (2 in most cases; 1 with x against xx(xxx) ).
I already hear you screaming “That’s too complex, man … That’s for a computer…” I am not going to get deeper in the manipulation of the footprints and controls, immediate losers, and their cooperation with the suits where your fit(s) are – it goes beyond the scope of the article, but you get the picture, I hope. Here is a simple example which illustrates the point.
The same fits “13 – 7 – 6 – 0”, with same 10 HCP but with different footprints:
1)
|
A Q x x x x x x x x x x x |
K J x x x x x —– |
This board has 0 losers in any of the 4 suits. The contract – 7 spades (the defenders wouldn’t find the killing trump lead :-).
The footprints of all the 3 non-trump suits are 0. Now, the second example:
2)
A Q x x x x K J x x x x x
x x x x x x x
x x x x x x
—– —–
This board has 3 losers in both and suits, since the footprints are 3 and controls are 0. The contract 1 spade. Significant difference by any standard 🙂 .
This article finalizes the Zar Points Series