25  Dummy Tricks part 2

So you’ve added up your HT (honour tricks).

Now count your Ruffs:

With 4 trumps thus:  Void = 3, Singleton = 2, Doubleton = 1 (count more than one short suit if you have them, but no more than 3 ruffs altogether.)  Every ruff is as good as an ace.

With 3 trumps (if necessary) Void = 2, Singleton = 1, Doubleton =  ½ .

Adding these two totals together (HTs + ruffs) gives you your Dummy Tricks (DT). This may sound complicated, but it is well worth learning, for it is far more accurate than points or LTC. But only use it for raising partner’s suit. It’s called Dummy Tricks because you are going to be Dummy.  Chief rule: there must always be at least one ruff in the total. If your hand is 4-3-3-3 then bid NT.   What do we do with this total?

A If you are the responder, bid the number of DT.  E.g. with a spade fit and 3 DTs, bid 3S.  With 2½ , bid 2S.  With 3½, you can bid 4S if you feel bold. Why? Because it plays the odds to your advantage. Partner may have an extra ½ trick to make up the shortfall, but even if not, your game contract will succeed 50% of the time, and the game bonus makes up for the times when you lose. Believe me, I’ve worked it all out!  But don’t bid 4C or 4D with 3½ DTs. The rule is, raise to game if you are only half a trick short of game - and remember it’s a risk, so preferably hold an extra picture or two.

B If you are the opener and wish to raise partner’s suit, it’s a little harder. By opening the bidding, you have already promised, and used up, 3 HTs (12 points). So, having calculated your DT total, you must subtract 3, then you add the remainder to the level of your partner’s existing bid.  Example: You open 1H, partner says 1S and you have 4 spades and you count 5 DTs altogether. 3 from 5 is 2, now add this to 1S and you get 3S. So bid that. Don’t groan; you have to do some calculations if you want to bid accurately. It’s surprising how soon you get used to it.[Some advice on practical use.  It’s best if your partner learns this with you, but you can always use it without telling even a new partner.] Next week: how to play the hand.