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.
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Adrian Hoad-ReddickElora, Ontario ArchivesCategories |