Learn

Don't go bait!

Bait is the most dreaded word at a Tarabish table. It's what happens when the team that called trump doesn't make it. The rules are simple, but the math is worth knowing.

Bait

The team that names trump is promising to finish ahead of the other side. Miss, and every point your team took goes to your opponents. You don't just lose the hand. You hand them your points too.

Half-bait

If the calling team lands on exactly half, it's a half-bait. The callers score nothing, and the other side keeps whatever it took. It stings less than a full bait, but it's still a wasted call.

The math

There are 162 points in a hand: 62 in trump, 90 in the plain suits and 10 for the last trick. With no melds in play:

Runs and Bella add points to a team's total, so the target shifts when someone melds. The rule never changes though: the calling team needs at least one point more than the other side. See Runs and Bella for how melds are scored.

Count as you go

You don't have to wait until the cards run out to know where you stand. Keep a running tally of the points your side has taken. A few things help:

• Each trick is worth the cards in it. Watch for the Aces, 10s and trump that land.
• The last trick is worth 10, so it can swing a close hand.
• Once you've counted 82 without melds, you're safe, and you can relax a little.
• If it's clear you won't get there, you can at least try to land on 81 and settle for a half-bait.

If you're defending

Your job is the opposite. You win by stopping the callers from reaching the line. Grab the big cards, take the trick that carries a couple of Aces, and pay attention to who's holding the trump. Every point you take is one the callers don't get.