Tricks, Trumps, and the Contract
Came from Don't Panic? You've already practised tricks and trumps. Focus on Idea 3 — the “+6” rule — then try the quick check.
Idea 1: A trick is four cards
Each of the four players plays one card. That's a trick. Thirteen tricks make a hand (52 ÷ 4 = 13).
- The first card played sets the suit — the lead.
- Everyone else must follow suit if they can.
- The highest card of the led suit wins — unless someone trumps (Idea 2).
- Whoever wins a trick leads to the next one.
If you can't follow suit, you may discard anything — or, in a trump contract, play a trump.
Idea 2: Trumps (and no trumps)
In most hands, one suit is crowned the trump suit by the auction. Trumps work exactly as in euchre or 500:
- You may only trump when you have none of the suit led.
- Any trump beats any card of the led suit — even an ace.
- If two players trump, the higher trump wins.
Some hands are played in no trumps (NT) — no trump suit at all. Then it's simply “highest card of the suit led wins,” every trick.
NT is not a trump suit. It's the option that says “no trumps.”
Idea 3: Bid level + 6 = tricks you need
A bid has a number and a strain (a suit, or no trumps). Example: 2♥.
The number does not mean “win two tricks.” Bids start counting after the first six tricks — your fair share of the thirteen. So:
| Bid | Tricks needed |
|---|---|
| 1 of anything | 7 (6 + 1) |
| 2 of anything | 8 (6 + 2) |
| 3 of anything | 9 (6 + 3) |
| 4 of anything | 10 (6 + 4) |
| 5 of anything | 11 (6 + 5) |
| 6 of anything | 12 (6 + 6) — a slam |
| 7 of anything | 13 (6 + 7) — a grand slam |
So 2♥ means: “We promise at least 8 tricks with hearts as trumps.” That final winning bid is the contract.
The auction ends when a bid is followed by three consecutive passes. Then play begins.
Suit ranking at the same level, lowest to highest: ♣ clubs, ♦ diamonds, ♥ hearts, ♠ spades, then NT (alphabetical order for the suits).
Quick check
Tricks, follow-suit, trumps or NT, and level + 6. That's enough to understand any contract you'll meet for a long while.
Next: how to measure whether your hand is strong enough to speak — high card points.