Two, trick 10 of 12. You are the Declarer, about to lead. Your remaining cards: XXI, VIII, K
. Still unaccounted for: the Skus and the Pagat. Your called partner has not yet revealed themselves.
Is leading the XXI now safe, risky, or does it depend on something you cannot see?
Reveal answer
Answer
Risky, full stop, and for the very reason this chapter keeps warning you about: the Emperor’s Trick never saves the Moon. If Skus, Moon and Pagat collide in one trick, the Pagat wins it, and your Moon counts as captured, minus 4 in your column, even when the Pagat belongs to your own partner. So the XXI has two hunters loose, not one, and no friendly rescue exists. Lead the VIII instead: a small Tarok pulls Taroks from every hand, and each card it flushes out is one less shadow over your Moon.