Calling the King — Puzzle M3

Your table plays the Kontra house rule, Hüttenfleck included. P1’s Rufer stands; they have already turned the talon face up and taken their half. You hold: XX, XV, XI, K♥, Q♣, C♦, J♠, 2♦, 3♥, 8♠, 9♣, 4♥, and you want to hit them with the biggest double you can.

koenigrufen Puzzle #199

Can you still get the Hüttenfleck's ×4, or only the standard Kontra's ×2?

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Answer

Only the standard Kontra, ×2. The Hüttenfleck is a Kontra thrown before the talon is even picked up; that window closed the moment the Declarer turned the halves face up and claimed one. A Kontra now still doubles the contract’s value if you have the grounds for it, but the extra bite was a pre-pickup bet only, on the blinder, riskier moment before anyone saw the talon.