Contract Three (two groups of three). Your hand: Skus, XI, VIII, XIV, K
, Q, C, J, 1
, 2, 3, 4. You hold no Diamonds and no Clubs at all. Group A: K
, Q, C (12 Card Points). Group B: 7
, 8, 9 (3 Card Points).
Which group do you take?
Reveal answer
Answer
K, Q, C (12 Card Points). Group B: 7, 8, 9 (3 Card Points).
Q: Which group do you take?
A: Group A. The void argument cuts both ways here: this hand is empty in Diamonds and in Clubs alike, so leaving Group A behind protects the Diamond void no better than taking it protects the Club void, one trump-in trick either way. What breaks the tie is the trumps behind it: Skus and three plain Taroks give you real control, not the strength to win a contested ruffing fight twice over, so a certain twelve Card Points beats a coin flip on which void actually pays off at the table. Group B’s three Clubs add three Card Points and nothing else; Group A is the stronger case by a wide margin.
, Q, C (12 Card Points). Group B: 7, 8, 9 (3 Card Points).
Q: Which group do you take?
A: Group A. The void argument cuts both ways here: this hand is empty in Diamonds and in Clubs alike, so leaving Group A behind protects the Diamond void no better than taking it protects the Club void, one trump-in trick either way. What breaks the tie is the trumps behind it: Skus and three plain Taroks give you real control, not the strength to win a contested ruffing fight twice over, so a certain twelve Card Points beats a coin flip on which void actually pays off at the table. Group B’s three Clubs add three Card Points and nothing else; Group A is the stronger case by a wide margin.