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The Schnapsen Log

July 21, 2013

By the Process of Elimination (after drawing ♣Q)

Martin Tompa

The only way to win from this position is to somehow arrange to win a trick with ♣T. If you can do that, you will reach 67 trick points.

The only way to win ♣T, in turn, is for Emmi to be forced to open up the club suit. This means throwing her in with a heart. But she still holds a safe exit card, J, so the first order of business is to eliminate that safe exit by leading A. If you do this and then throw her in with J, she will be on lead in this position:

Emmi: (32 points)

K
♣ AK

You: (53 points)

Q
♣ TQ

Emmi can cash K and ♣A, but eventually she will be forced to grant you the win of ♣T.

© 2013 Martin Tompa. All rights reserved.


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About the Author

Martin Tompa

Martin Tompa (tompa@psellos.com)

I am a Professor of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington, where I teach discrete mathematics, probability and statistics, design and analysis of algorithms, and other related courses. I have always loved playing games. Games are great tools for learning to think logically and are a wonderful component of happy family or social life.

Read about Winning Schnapsen, the very first and definitive book on the winning strategy for this fascinating game.

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