You are the Rufer Declarer. Your hand before the pickup: III, VII, K♠, Q♦, C♣, J♥, 2♥, 3♦, 8♣, 9♠, 7♠, 4♦. The talon halves turn face up. Half A: XIV, Q♣, 2♦. Half B: 3♥, 7♣, 9♣.
Which half do you take, and what do you discard to return to twelve?
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Answer
Take Half A. It carries a Tarok and a Queen worth real Card Points; Half B is three pips worth nothing and no Tarok strength at all. That leaves you at fifteen cards, so discard three back down: Kings and Trull may never be discarded, so leave K♠ alone, and there is no need to touch a Tarok either. Send back 3♦, 4♦, and 2♥. Reds rank 1 highest, then 2, 3, 4, so between your two 2s the choice is made by the suits, not the ranks: the 2♦ stands behind your Q♦ as a guard, while the 2♥ is the last Heart you hold. Discarding it makes you VOID in Hearts, and from then on every Heart lead is an invitation to trump.