You count you and your partners losers and reduce the total from 24, and you have a raw total of the total number of tricks your partnership will be able to make. A simple working guide is here:
Count your losers
Add partners losers
Deduct the total from 24(max number of losers in each suit is 3)
Answer = Tricks expected
Points Description of strength Expectancy
13-15 Sound minimum opening 6-7 losers(NT=7 losers)
13+ Takeout double, unpassed hand 7 losers
13+ Jump raise, forcing to game 7 losers
15+ Jump rebid by opener – own suit 5-6 losers
16-18 Strong opening 5-6 losers(NT=6 losers)
19-21 Very strong opening 4-5 losers
22-up Game force opening 3 losers or fewer
10-12 Just below normal opening 8 losers
7-9 Well below sound opening 9 losers
6-8 Minimum weak 2-opening 8 losers
8-10 Maximum weak 2-opening 7 losers
Points Expectancy
12-14 NT 7-8 losers, commonly 8
13-15 NT 7-8 losers, commonly 7
14-17 NT 6-7 losers, 7 if minimum, 6 if maximum
15-18 NT 6-7 losers, commonly 6
16-18 NT 6 losers normally
19-21 NT 5 losers normally
22-24 NT 4 losers normally
