Acey Deucey

Between us my brother and I know just about everything there is to know in this old world. Don't take my word for it. Ask me anything. I'll probably refer you to Dizzy, but that's how it goes.

So, when a dancer asked me where the term Acey-Deucey originated I called Dizzy on the eau-de-cologne and this is what he said.

In 1950 it wasn't clear whether Joe Lewis or Jim Yorke was going to come to Australia to promote square dancing and being buddies (American mates) they played a hand of blackjack to decide.

In blackjack (American pontoon) the hand closest to 21 wins but, if you go past 21, no matter what the other person has, you lose.

Joe dealt and Jim got a 10. Only an Ace (which counts as either 1 or 11) would have been better. Joe got an 8, normally a bad card, but he was philosophical. "It's an omen," he said. "There are eight dancers in a square."

The next card Jim got was another 10 which gave him the almost unbeatable score of 20, but Joe cheerfully turned up two more cards, an Ace and a 2. "Hey, look at that," he said. "Acey-Deucey!" And since 8 + 11 + 2 = 21 he won the trip to Australia.

Years later Joe told Jon Jones of Caller Lab about it and Jon said, "That'd make a nice name for a square dance movement," and the Acey-Deucey was born.

I couldn't wait to get to the dance next week to tell my friend. He was less than impressed and asked if it was a true story. I pointed out that, if not, somebody went to a lot of trouble to invent it.

So he trusted me.   (I have an honest face and people are apt to believe me if I can avoid grinning while I talk.)

Dizzy has an honest face too and he never smiles when he talks, so I always believe him.

What do you think?