24 Dummy Tricks part 1

I am almost reluctant to teach you this, because I regard it as the crowning glory of my system, something which has given me the edge over other players all my life. It is based on an old method which went out of fashion long ago, perhaps because it is not particularly easy to remember, but if you are prepared to take the trouble to learn it, you will have a tool which will help you wipe the floor with your opponents time after time, because it has a higher degree of accuracy than other methods.. Before I continue, I should quote you one of my sayings “The best convention is the one you can remember”. Let’s see if you can remember what follows, then.

Here goes, how to raise partner’s suit when you have found an 8-card fit - preferably the holy grail 4-4 rather than the too popular 5-3. Here’s where we abandon points completely. Use “Dummy Tricks”.  First count your Honour Tricks/Quick Tricks, thus:

2 = AK       1½ = AQ      1= A  or KQ* or KJ10     ½ = Kx  or QJx

*K & Q can be in two different suits if you like: although this is strictly ¾ trick, it usually works out OK.  

You cannot count more than 2HTs in any one suit, so AKQ is still 2. (However, any leftover honours can add up to an extra trick or half-trick in borderline cases.)

LEARN THE ABOVE TABLE, it’s useful elsewhere.