The law of total tricks states that the total number of available tricks is equal to the sum of the number of trumps held by the two sides in their best suits respectively. For example, if NS holds 9 ♥s and EW holds 8 ♠s, the law states that there are 17 tricks available. If EW can just make a game (10 tricks) in this deal, NS can take 7 tricks in ♥ because there are 17 tricks available. However, if EW can make a grand slam, NS can only take 4 tricks.