Play Some BishDaily Challenge Recap
Four Hearts Look Like the Call, and They Lose
Four hearts with the King and Queen is the call most players would make in a heartbeat. It also loses. The suit that wins is the one that looks like an afterthought.
The hand
Your first six cards are the King, 10 and 8 of hearts, the Queen and 9 of clubs, and the 6 of spades. You have no diamonds. The kitty is the 6 of clubs, the 7 of spades and the Queen of hearts.
The decision
The Queen of hearts from the kitty gives you the King and Queen, a Bella, and four hearts in all. It still loses 96 to 106, because Opponent 1 holds the Ace and Nine of hearts and Opponent 2 holds the Jack. Whoever holds the top three trumps wins the suit, whatever else is in your hand.
Clubs is quieter: the Queen and 9, plus the 6 from the kitty. It wins 118 to 64, because your Partner holds the Jack of clubs. The Jack and Nine of clubs are on your side of the table. Diamonds also wins, 105 to 77, but you hold none, so nobody would call it.
The line that wins
The hard AI, playing all four seats with the cards face up, won four of nine tricks with clubs as trump, and the four were worth 98 points.
Trick 1: Partner's Jack takes 43
Opponent 1 leads the Ace of hearts. Your Partner has no hearts and cuts with the Jack of clubs, and you add the 10 of hearts. The trick is worth 43 points before you have played a card of your own.
Trick 5: the Nine cuts the Ace
Opponent 2 leads the Ace of diamonds. You have no diamonds, so your 9 of clubs goes in and takes 30 points.
Trick 9: the price
Opponent 1's 10 of clubs takes the last trick, 36 points with the bonus. Winning the call does not mean winning every trick.
The takeaway
Strong cards in a suit mean little if the opponents hold the three best trumps. When the call is forced, count the Jack, Nine and Ace before you count the rest. Your Partner's 7, 8 and 9 of diamonds are a 20 run that count for your side whichever suit you call. Read why the Jack beats everything and runs and Bella.