You are the Declarer in a Call. You have called the King of Clubs. Your hand before the exchange: Skus, XVII, XI, VIII, IV, K
, Q
, C
, 2, 3, 8, 9. The talon halves turn face-up. Half A: XX, J, 4. Half B: 4, 7, 9
.
Which half do you take, and what do you discard to return to twelve?
Answer
Take Half A. Count it: the Skus and the XVII at 2 each, the XI, the VIII and the IV at 1 each, the K at 1: a 12-count of 8, which matches the Call. The half you leave goes to the Defenders’ pile as Card Points, so compare what each half would hand them. Half A brings the XX, a big Tarok, and its J is 1 pip. Half B brings no Tarok, no King and no pips: leave it, and the Defenders gain no pips from the talon. Then discard three cards to return to twelve. Kings and Trull cards may never be discarded, so the K and the Skus stay, and with eight color cards free to go, no Tarok may go. Your discards count for your side, so discard the three cards with the most pips that the law allows, Q, C and J: 6 pips.
at 1: a 12-count of 8, which matches the Call. The half you leave goes to the Defenders’ pile as Card Points, so compare what each half would hand them. Half A brings the XX, a big Tarok, and its J is 1 pip. Half B brings no Tarok, no King and no pips: leave it, and the Defenders gain no pips from the talon. Then discard three cards to return to twelve. Kings and Trull cards may never be discarded, so the K and the Skus stay, and with eight color cards free to go, no Tarok may go. Your discards count for your side, so discard the three cards with the most pips that the law allows, Q, C and J: 6 pips.