Read the article: Loser Count for Bidding: Judge Contracts Better
*3♦ is a 11+ point spade raise.
How do you evaluate this hand? you only have 12 points, is there any indication that this hand might have slam potential? Most of the field in the finals of the ANC missed this slam, including various players who have represented Australia in the past.
For very distributional hands, losing trick count is more accurate than point count. Here we have 4 losers - 2 heart losers, 2 club losers (I don't count any spade losers because we have a 10 card fit).
Losing trick count goes like this - two 7 loser hands = game. An opening hand is about 7 losers. When you reduce that total loser count by 2, you get to slam zone. So, since partner has shown approximately an opening hand, say 7 losers. And since you have 4 losers, you are certainly in the slam zone.
This hand is worth at least a slam try. Its a reasonable strategy to cue bid to make sure you're not missing the AK of hearts, and then just go for it.
The most important signals
Double or bid?
Bid as high as possible!
Defending against a multi 2♦
Transfer or not?
Nv compete
How strong vulnerable?
Preempt suit quality
6322 and 7222
2♣ opening
Doubleton lead
Passive lead
When to lead active
1N with 5422
Takeout double
Negative double
Splinters
Competing partscore
Try not double
Ace Ace King
2 level overcall
Lead Trumps #1
Lead Trumps #2
7 card GOOD suit
To open or not, pre-empt or not
Let the opponents play when they are misfitting
The strongest hand
Be practical
Losing trick count bidding
Favourable vulnerability
Be a nuisance
Big trump fits
What does 3♥ show?
Mental game
6+ card suits
Use puppet stayman more
Don't push slam in competition
The unusual 2♠ bid
Intermediate jumps
Conventions
Choice of equal cards
Don't false card
Never preempt with 11 points
Is the bid forcing?
Double, Double
Double 1NT, next double
Counting Habit #1
Opener rebidding bad suits
Responder bidding bad suits
2♦ opening
Don't split honors