The Schnapsen Log

Only Minds Infer

Martin Tompa

It’s Thursday evening and, to no one’s surprise, you can be found at your card club, The Black Eagle, playing Schnapsen with the locals. Right now you are facing the flamboyant and clever milliner Katharina, sporting another of her outlandish creations. Feathers sprout all over it, in colors and patterns that were never seen on any tropical bird. Between sneezes and surpressed laughter, you get to the following position.

Unseen cards:
♠ Q
♥ KQ
♣ —
♦ ATQ

Your cards:
♠ TK
♥ ATJ
♣ —
♦ —

Trump: ♠J
Stock: 1 face-down card
Game points: Katharina 4, You 7
Trick points: Katharina 19, You 28
On lead: Katharina

At this point Katharina tickles her cards with two feather tips, as though they help her choose a card, and leads ♦Q. What is your plan? When you think you have a good one, you are welcome to read my analysis.

© 2012 Martin Tompa. All rights reserved.

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