The Schnapsen Log

August 15, 2015

A Second Ounce of Prevention

Martin Tompa

You have advanced to round 2 of the regional tournament. After a few other opponents, you are pitted once again against Katharina. This is the situation in the very first deal:

Concealed cards:
♠ A
♥ T
♣ AQ
♦ AK

Your cards:
♠ J
♥ —
♣ KJ
♦ TQ

Trump: ♥J
Stock: 1 face-down card
Game points: Katharina 7, You 7
Trick points: Katharina 13, You 54
On lead: Katharina

Your wonderful trick point score is due to a spade marriage at the beginning of the deal. Katharina ponders for a moment, her eyes concealed by a palm frond hanging down from her hat. She gives her head a small shake to get the frond out of her way and, to your surprise, closes the stock. She cashes ♠A and then leads ♥T.

What is your plan? When you think you have a good one, you are welcome to read my analysis.

© 2015 Martin Tompa. All rights reserved.

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About the Author

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.