All three other players have passed. You are the dealer, speaking last, holding: VIII, VI, V, III, II, K♦, Q♣, J♥, 10♠.
You hold no honour at all. Can you still keep the auction alive, and what happens if you try?
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Answer
Bid the trial Three. As dealer, speaking last after three straight passes, you alone may bid Three without an honour, betting that the talon supplies one. Five Taroks give the hand the right shape for it, even though none of your own cards is a key. If the three drawn talon cards hold no honour, play stops on the spot: each opponent adds the game’s value of 1, and you write nothing. Note the risk is real: if you pass instead, the hand is thrown in and nobody scores, so a failed trial hands the table three free points. Five Taroks make the bet worth it; a flat hand should let the throw-in happen.