Strategies

Golden rule: don't waste a trump if you can beat with a regular card.

When to spend trump:

• Beating high cards (queens, kings, aces)
• At end of game when deck is empty
• If taking cards would lead to loss

Priority: use the minimum necessary trump. Beat a six with trump six, not ace.

Good to take:

• Need 2+ trumps to defend against small cards
• Thrown in many sixes and sevens
• Deck is big — time to normalize

Dangerous to take:

• You already have 8+ cards
• Deck is ending
• Thrown in high cards

Early game: attack with low cards (6, 7, 8). Save high cards for the end.

Late game: attack with high cards. Opponents have fewer trumps.

Throwing in:

• Throw in low cards
• Throw in pairs of same rank
• Don't throw in high cards to player with 1-2 cards

Signs of strong hand:

• Aggressive throwing in
• Quick decisions
• Beats with low trumps

Signs of weak hand:

• Thinks for long
• Often takes cards
• Wastes high trumps on small cards

1. Wasting trump ace on a six

2. Defending "to the end" instead of taking small cards

3. Attacking with king early in game

4. Throwing high cards to player with 1-2 cards

5. Playing without plan or situation analysis