The hand may be played either without a trump, or a trump suit may be selected.
The dealer has the option of making a declaration or of passing that privilege to his partner. If the dealer passes the make, his partner must announce the trump. A trump once made cannot be changed at any time during the deal.
TABLE OF TRICK VALUES
(For each trick over six.)
| When | ♠ | are trumps each trick counts | 2 |
| When | ♣ | are trumps each trick counts | 4 |
| When | ♦ | are trumps each trick counts | 6 |
| When | ♥ | are trumps each trick counts | 8 |
| When there are | no | trumps each trick counts | 12 |
DOUBLING
After the trump has been declared each adversary, in turn, may increase the value of the tricks by doubling.
The leader—the player at the left of the dealer—has the first right to double. If the leader does not wish to double his partner may then do so.
REDOUBLING
If either the leader or his partner has doubled the trump, the dealer or his partner may re-double, the player who has made the trump having the first right. This process may continue indefinitely. Doubling or redoubling does not affect the value of the honours.