If the player on your right renounces to trumps, get into the lead if possible, and play your best cards in plain suits. This may give your partner a tenace position over the player on your left.
If partner begins with a high card in trumps, not the ace, credit him with the sequence below it, and put in your Pedro at the first opportunity. For instance: Partner leads King, won by the ace second hand. Whatever this player leads, put in your Pedro, if you have one, your partner must have Queen of trumps.
Playing to the score is very important. Do not attempt to get more than the number bid until that is assured. On the other hand, if it is certain that the adversary cannot make good his bid, do not let him get as close to it as possible, but play boldly to win all you can, for every point he makes is simply lost.
Here are a few example hands, which will give a very good idea of some of the fine points in the game.
| No. 1. A bids 8 on hearts. The draw: A 2; Y 2; B 4; Z 5. | Trick | No. 2. A bids 8 on hearts. The draw: A 2; Y 3; B 4; Z 4. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Y | B | Z | A | Y | B | Z | |
| ♣Q | ♣3 | ♡8 | ♣5 | 1 | ♡3 | ♡7 | ♡10 | ♡8 |
| ♡2 | ♡6 | ♡Q | ♡4 | 2 | ♡Q | ♡2 | ♡4 | ♡9 |
| ♡10 | ♡J | ♣J | ♡9 | 3 | ♡6 | ♡J | A♢ | ♣4 |
| ♡K | 5♢ | 2♠ | 4♠ | 4 | ♣2 | 7♠ | K♢ | 6♠ |
| ♡A | ♡7 | 6♠ | ♣9 | 5 | ♡K | ♡A | ♣3 | ♣6 |
| ♡3 | ♡5 | 10♠ | K♢ | 6 | ♡5 | 5♢ | 2♢ | ♣10 |
No. 1. Y’s draw shows that he holds at least four trumps, so A must trust his partner to cinch the first trick and return the trump. [See our suggestions for good play.] At trick 3, Z cinches, to make A play a high trump. It is evident to A that neither B nor Z holds either Jack or Seven of trumps; so both those cards must be with Y. As B has no more trumps the adversaries must have both Pedroes, and Y must have one, as he holds four trumps. If they are divided, A can catch both by cinching this trick with the King and leading the Ace; but if Y has both Pedroes, such a course would lose Jack, Game, and one Pedro. If A cinches this trick with the Ten, allowing Y to win with the Jack, A must catch both Pedroes, no matter how they lie, provided Y leads the trump Seven, for A will refuse to win it.
Y sees his danger, and by leading a Pedro to A, forces him either to pass it, or to get into the lead and free the other Pedro.
A-B score nothing: Y-Z score 7 for Jack, Game, Pedro; and 8 in addition, for points bid but not made by A-B; 15 altogether.
No. 2. At trick 2, Y sees that he cannot save Low, and the lead would be a great disadvantage, because either A has all the remaining trumps, or Y’s partner has an unguarded Pedro. At trick 3, A knows that if Y has Ace, and Z Pedro, A can still make his bid by catching Jack, and saving his own Pedro. If the Pedro was not with Z the small trump is still the best lead, for it puts the lead on A’s left. B gets rid of cards which might get him into the lead to his partner’s disadvantage. Unfortunately, Z is unable to take the lead away from Y at trick 4. As Y is still in the lead, there is no necessity for A to save his Pedro, for Y cannot possibly catch it, and A must catch Y’s, no matter how Y plays.