The Art of Elemcem

It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack him straightway, without waiting for any further advantage; if twice as numerous, to divide our army into two. Sun-Tzu

1: If you want your partner to throw out an ace to support your no-trump run, lead with that ace.

That is to say, 
reach out
for the support 
of your partner.

Your boss card
Seeking its like.
Power for power
a sacrifice for you,
Extending hands.

Occasionally,
your opponents 
will be forced to drop it,
bare;
Open up your run, your play.

Ask once and first;
subsequent ace drops
do not mandate this sacrifice.

2: Lead with power – the right - before playing off-suit aces. This is especially true with respect to the ‘next of’ aces.

Do not be “The general, unable to control his irritation,
launching his men to the assault like swarming ants” – Sun-Tzu

Ronn’s cardinal rule,
And most times,
he’ll be sure to remind you.
It’s all about the numbers.
Display your power
avoid short-suited ambushes.
Especially true when playing, say spades,
and the ‘next-of’ ace (clubs in this case),
because those Jacks become lefts
and there’s only 32 cards on the table,
And only so many trump,
and you’re going to play it anyway.
Draw away the backup power.
If the opponents have few trump,
Then a little cat and mouse cross-rough
is preferred to a trump grab from your partner.

3: Don't get caught with two aces when defending an opponent's Elemcem bid.

Make up your mind,
don’t leave yourself with
conflicting strength;

you know you’ve got the potential
to stop your foe’s bid
take them down 16.
But what to hold back?
A brace of bare aces
is rarely the right path
(and keep an eye on
what your partner is throwing – remember
it is two-against-one and your power comes from
allying your cards).
Heed the power of
a King, King, Queen
on that tentative last hand
(or an Ace, King, Jack)
It always comes down to
the last card.

4: There is no such thing as a seven bid.

Perhaps not true,
Maintaining absolute control
is for Elemcems and benefits from
that extra card from your partner.
It’s damned hard to give up control
and get it right back--
That said, it is fun to try
when things are rolling your way.

5: If you don't have trump Ace or higher, give your Elemceming partner a short-suited ace.

Don’t give your partner
what he doesn’t need.
Don’t give him anything
less than an ace in his declared trump.
Sure, the small fry will extend the run,
But it’ll come down to non-trump play
—the aces.
If you don’t have a bower,
Offer an off-suit ace power.
And choose the one most
short-suited in your hand.
If it isn’t here, it’s there.
Feed the need.

6: Limey includes his partner's tricks in his bidding.

Paul is a wily veteran of the game,
Coming on 40 years of experience
His bare-chested bids come with the
need to know he has factored in your
two winning hands. Don’t amp him up.
Distract him with some Journey, U2 or
Marillion. He’ll dive in to the lyrics,
punctuated by smokes and, of late, Coronas.  

7: Taking opponents down 6 is better than a successful 6-bid, or in the words of Sun-Tzu, “the highest form of generalship is to balk the enemy's plans.”

It’s ultimately an offensive game,
one awarding the bold bidder;
we’re all inclined to overstretch;
when the cards get a little cold.
sit in the bushes. 
You’ll be up 7 or 8,
relatively speaking.

8: Great players make good use of mediocre cards. 

The game is always the best of times,
but those successions of Kings and Queens
can be dispiriting. Ultimately, the game
will come down to how well you use the
cards in your hand (even the cards not worthy
of a two-bid). 
As the Art of War states, 
a general with inferior numbers is
best advised to avoid, or watch the enemy.
 
PS don’t whinge about the run of bad hands,
have a beer and marvel at the friendships at
the table. Hope it’s your partner’s turn. There are
only so many Kings and Queens.

9: Sister kissers are for sissies.  

“The worst policy of all is to besiege walled cities” Sun-Tzu
The four-four splits are sometimes a way out
of well-distributed power. You have to be able to
stay close. The sister-kissers are incestuously
distasteful late in the game, when your opponents
are closing in on the 100 and will take what they can get.
Avoid them at all costs at this stage of the game.

10: Always lead your bare right.
Heed those times when all
of your power is in a single Jack,
All powerful, but also tentative,
Vulnerable. 
Use your power when you’ve got it.
First one laid takes the trick.
Don’t be second fiddle
to the other one out there.

11: Indicate to your partner what you want them coming back to you in.
In night-fighting, then, make much use of signal-fires and drums, and in fighting by day, of flags and banners, as a means of influencing the ears and eyes of your army. – Sun -Tzu

It’s all about clarity and expectations,
and communication. When your trump is dead,
instruct your partner
on your remaining strength.
They may or may not need you.
They may or not be able to get to you.
But the offer is on the table.