Play Some BishDaily Challenge Recap
The Jack, the Nine and the Ten of Clubs
Some hands tell you what to call. This one holds the Jack, Nine and Ten of clubs, and the Jack and Nine are the two best trumps in the game. The call is easy. The surprise is what was hiding in the other suits.
The hand
Your first six cards are the Jack, 10 and 9 of clubs, the King and 10 of spades, and the 8 of diamonds. You hold no hearts at all. The Jack and Nine are the two strongest trumps in the game, and the 9, 10 and Jack together make a 20 run.
The kitty adds the Queen and Ace of spades. With your King, that gives you Queen, King and Ace of spades, a second 20 run. Runs score on top of the trick points, and only one player on a team counts them, so see runs and Bella for how that works.
The line that wins
The hard AI, playing every seat with the cards face up, won seven of nine tricks, 108 to 54. You lose the first trick, and that is fine.
Trick 3: the Nine takes the Ace
Your Partner leads the Queen of clubs. In trump order the 9 is second only to the Jack, so your 9 of clubs beats it and wins 17 points. This is the part new players miss: the 9 outranks the Ace, the 10 and the King.
Trick 4: lead the Jack right away
Lead the Jack of clubs next. Your Partner feeds the Ace of clubs onto it, and both opponents have to throw off because they are out of clubs. The trick is worth 31 points, and the trump suit now belongs to your side.
Tricks 7 and 8: cash the spades
Lead the 10 and then the King of spades. They win 16 and 11 points, and neither opponent has a trump to cut them with.
Where it's easy to go wrong
The last trick is worth 33 points and it goes to Opponent 2, who holds the Ace of diamonds, because your 8 of diamonds is your last card. Also, calling diamonds from this hand loses 51 to 111.
Here is the twist. Hearts wins even bigger, 120 to 42, because your Partner holds the Jack and the Nine of hearts. You hold no hearts in your first six, so nobody would call it.
The takeaway
Call what you can see. The top two trumps in your own hand are worth more than a hope about your Partner's. For the full order, read why the Jack beats everything,.