Calling the King: Puzzle C5

KR-C5 Puzzle

You are the Forehand, and you speak first. Your hand: XVIII, XII, IX, VI, Kclubs, Qhearts, Cspades, Jdiamonds, 2hearts, 3diamonds, 8clubs, 9spades.

Do you bid, or do you pass?

Reveal answer

Answer

Pass. The hand fits none of the five bids. Count it first: the XVIII is a big Tarok, 2; the XII, the IX and the VI add 1 each; the Kclubs adds 1: a 12-count of 6. The Blind Solo asks for 12 or more. The No-Trump asks for about 7 sure tricks or 25 Card Points in hand, and the No-Trump Solo for 8 sure tricks or 30 Card Points. With the Taroks playing as a plain suit, the Kclubs is the only sure trick here, and the twelve cards hold 14 Card Points: a base count of 4 plus a pip count of 10. The Beggar asks for a hand in which no card has to win a trick, and the Piccolo for a hand with exactly one such card. This hand holds two, the XVIII and the Kclubs. So you pass. Your pass is not final: the Forehand may still bid when the turn comes back. And if all four pass, the Forehand must play and chooses the Call or the Dodge Round.