Tarot Strategy

Defensive Play

The Defense has three times the cards to work with as does the Taker, but the defensive players must coordinate their efforts and work on assumptions, since no one knows what resources are at their disposal. That means each player must evaluate his own hand, and the defender who thinks he has the best of the three hands must take the initiative in play.

In general, the Defense should win the majority of the tricks, not let the Taker control the lead, and not give him free points. Yet these rules are not absolute, and there are many variations in play.

It is important to account for the tarots held, their rank, and the role of the Excuse in order to defend well.

Using these principles, and knowing the content of the Dog, your partners' opening plays will inform you of their hands.

Unless you have one of the following conditions:

• the Dwarf is in your hand, and in danger;
• your hand is absolutely stronger than your partners';
• your partners' strategy risks destroying your hand;

you should always return to the last suit led by your partners. Do not worry about sacrificing points; if the strategy succeeds, the Taker's suit will be exhausted, and one may be able to capture even more points.

But on the other hand, if you are taking the defensive lead, be sensitive to the signals sent by your partners and be ready to obey those who disobey.

Know How to Evaluate Hands

Do you have a strong or weak hand?

A strong hand has at least 5 tarots, and one "lock" (at least 5 cards in one suit with two tricks guaranteed).

If a partner opens in a suit which you are short in (fewer than 5 cards), one may suppose he has a long suit of the same type, and vice versa. The Defense must always try to protect its strong hand, at the same time using the best of one's own hand in cooperation.

The Dog has minimal effect on the manner of play, but it is important to remember the number of tarots, their rank, and the point cards in the Dog, even though the Taker is more likely to play according to what is already in his hand.

The Lead

The lead is effective because it limits the number of options the Taker has. It should never be a random decision, but should bring an advantage to the Defense at the same time conveying information to one's partners.

Why lead a tarot?

• To exhaust the Taker, interrupt his strategy and wrest control from him.
• To drive out the Dwarf.
• To give one's partners (or oneself) the chance to throw in points.

When should one's opening lead be a tarot?

• When a defender has 7 tarots or more and he is taking charge of protecting the Dwarf. [A defender is in charge of protecting the Dwarf when he has one of the 3 highest tarots among 7+ in hand--thus he may assume his partners are short in tarots, and if they hold the Dwarf, it is in jeopardy.]
• When the defender has few tarots, to indicate to his partners he has a "lock" in two suits at least, in order to throw in indefensible points on a tarot or trick offered by the partners. In contrast to the previous case, this player will not be in charge of protecting the Dwarf.
• Leading an odd-numbered tarot less than 10 announces a hand of 7 tarots or more; leading an even-numbered tarot less than 10 announces fewer than 7 tarots. But: If a defender cannot protect the Dwarf, and the strong hand has not been clearly indicated, it is hazardous for him to lead a tarot, especially if he has 7 tarots or more.
• Thus if a defender opens with a low, even-numbered tarot, his partners know:
  • He possesses fewer than 7 tarots, and
  • he possesses one of the 3 highest among them, and
  • he has a lock in 2 suits.
• If a defender opens with a low, odd-numbered tarot, they know:
  • He possesses at least 7 tarots, and
  • he possesses one of the 3 highest among them, and
  • he has a lock in one or more suits.

When should one's opening lead be a suit?

• If one has a strong hand. One generally opens in one's longest suit in order to discover the Taker's absent suits and to improve one's balance with tarots. The king as first lead is not obligatory--it depends on the length of the suit. If the suit is very long, one may hope to run the gamut, exhausting the Taker before the king is played. (A king in sixth place or greater.) To lead the king from a long suit permits you to retain control if the Taker has cards in that suit. If the Taker trumps, it is not a loss, since a primary goal of the Defense is to discover the Taker's absent suits.
• If one has a weak hand. One generally opens in a short suit in order to:
  • protect the Defense's strong hand;
  • protect the Dwarf in Defense;
  • go absent in a suit rapidly, thereafter to exhaust one's tarots. If one hasn't any more tarots, one may throw in point cards when one's partners claim a trick.
• Lead with a king from a short suit (3rd in the suit or less) because it cannot be defended, and you may find the Taker is absent in that suit. If played in the first turn, it is likely to claim a singleton from the Taker, thus retaining control.

If one opens with a suit card between 1 and 5, this indicates an honor (Q or K) in hand for that suit.

If one opens with a suit card above 5, this indicates a shortfall in that suit, and that one's hand is weak in tarots. Therefore, a weak-handed player cannot announce a lock until after his opening lead.

One must be careful how one announces honors relative to one's position to the Taker.

The Dog has little influence over leads, but in general:

• The Taker will likely play tarots when there are 3 or more tarots in the Dog.
• The Taker will likely play a suit if there are 3 or more of that suit in the Dog.
• The Taker will likely play a suit if its king is in the Dog.

The Course of Play--The Dwarf in Defense

If the player just before the Taker plays a high tarot, this does not necessarily mean that he has the Dwarf, but that he wishes to deprive the Taker of control.

In response to a lead by one's partners of a tarot, to signal you have the Dwarf, do not lead with a tarot yourself.

If you do not have control, you should play tarots in descending order, and your partners should respond by halting tarot leads.

If the Dwarf is "long" in your hand (6th or 7th among tarots), you have a strong hand and should lead from your long suit.

If the Dwarf is "short", you have a weak hand and should lead from a semi-long suit, or you will be trumping soon.

If the Dwarf is "long", it is often pointless to stop playing tarots introduced by your partners, because if they are playing them, they are assuming Protection of the Dwarf.

In response to leads in a suit that the Taker trumps or that is short in your hand, play your cards in descending order, to show you do not like that suit.

The Excuse in Defense

To show the Excuse very quickly gives more information to the Taker rather than to your partners, except in the case where the strong hand started a hunt for the Dwarf, or seeks to exhaust the Taker, because it helps him calculate the distribution of tarots.

The Excuse played in the first round is a strong signal to stop leading with tarots.

An Excuse played on a tarot indicates one has a higher tarot than those played, and/or that one is long in tarots.

An Excuse played on a suit indicates one is long in that suit and alerts one's partners of a possiblity of throwing in points, and/or one is long in tarots, but one cannot trump yet, and/or one wishes to protect one's points in that suit.

Throwing in Points

If you have time, it is preferable to throw in the last card of a suit, which will signal your partners, exhaust your hand of the suit, and when the Taker leads the suit subsequently, will allow you to throw in points.

In the case where the Defense is exhausting the Taker, it is not wise to throw in one of the Taker's absent suits, because it can be used against him as well.

Do not throw in points of a suit that has not been played except in the case where it is very short in your hand.

Throwing in a king of a suit not yet opened signals you have the Queen as well.

"Two for One" Strategy

This is an approach of play that allows the Defense to expend one tarot while the Taker uses two.

Two members of the Defense exhaust a long suit of the Taker quickly, in the hope that the third defender is longer in that suit than the Taker. Then they take turns leading tarots. For example: the Taker is long in hearts and has no clubs. Defenders 1 and 3 have no hearts. Defender 2 does not trump. In this case:

• Defender 3 plays a tarot; Defender 2 wins the trick.
• Defender 2 plays a tarot; Defender 1 wins the trick.
• Defender 1 plays a club; the Taker trumps it.
• The Taker plays a heart; Defender 1 is out of tarots, and discards; Defender 2 plays a heart; Defender 3 trumps.
• Defender 3 plays a tarot; Defender 2 wins the trick.
• Defender 2 plays a club; the Taker trumps it.
• Etc.

Particular Plays

• The Excuse on the first turn where tarots are led is an absolute request to stop; a Defender who leads subsequently will only play the highest tarot.
• The Excuse on a suit trick is a request to stop, in order to protect the king.
• The earlier the Excuse appears in defensive play, the more smoothly play will proceed.
• It is important not to let the Taker play the Excuse "free of charge" since the contract depends on it.
• A defender who plays before the Taker should avoid playing a lesser card in a suit where he holds the king, lest the Taker later can trump it.
• A player who trumps ahead of the Taker, if overtrumping, must do so with his highest tarot, thus possibly saving the Defense from expending another high tarot.
• As soon as the Dwarf is played it is often a good idea to play tarots again and especially to play "2 for 1".
• In a trick led with a tarot, if you play before the Taker and have the Excuse, the 19 and the 20 of tarot, it is a good idea to play the 20, which will force out the 21, if the Taker has it, and will deny him good use of it.
• If you are very short in tarots, divest yourself of the high tarots, to avoid trumping up to your hand when you cannot continue the strategy.
• If you have honors in short suits, it is useful if you play in front of the Taker to use them. That will oblige him to trump or to give up the trick on a singleton.
• In a contract "without or against the Dog", if you have at least 6 tarots, don't hesitate to play a tarot.
• A partner who plays tarots in descending order is in trouble. Avoid leading tarots unless you possess the highest one.
• If you have the Dwarf and at least 5 other tarots (with high-ranking tarots), defend it yourself, and find the Taker's absent suits--you will be more effective on your own.
• A defender should never lead in a suit previously led by the Taker, unless it will be trumped.
• Sometimes you will be obliged to open an entirely new suit; do not hesitate and announce your play per the rules of opening leads.

Offensive Play

The Discard (Ecart) along with the mode of play is one of the most significant factors for the Taker. It often happens that a card set aside or kept in hand decides the contract. There are some guidelines:

	Less than 8 tarots	8 to 10 tarots	More than 10 tarots
1 Oudler	Keep your point cards. Protect the long suit. One absent suit max.	Keep your point cards. Protect the long suit. Two absent suits possible.	Keep your major point cards. (King-Queen pairs.) Prefer suits with "locks" over short ones and long suits without honors.
2 Oudlers	Keep your point cards. Protect the long suit. One absent suit max.	Keep your major point cards. Protect the long suit. Keep intermediate point cards. Two absent suits possible.	Keep the major cards without worrying about the length of suits. Discard small point cards. Two or three absent suits possible.
3 Oudlers	Keep your major point cards. Discard intermediate point cards. Make your second longest suit absent if possible to pass the Dwarf.

General rules:

• A long suit should be preserved whole (if 8+ tarots).
• Give priority to the long suit with the most cards.
• If two suits are equally long, save the one with the stronger honors (if 8+ tarots).
• It is essential to have absent suits if one has the Dwarf.
• With four kings make a singleton of a king.
• Discarding a six-card suit to make it absent is excellent because the Defense has 8 cards of that suit and it protects one's tarots, BUT this should not be done to save the Dwarf.
• Without enough high cards in a long suit to control play, it is preferable to discard certain long honors and preserve those in short suits.
• An isolated honor with little chance of taking a trick is better off in the discard.
• In contrast, 2 or 3 honors in sequence will be able to carry tricks.
• When one is obliged to keep a singleton, choose a suit which has an honor, especially if that honor was in the Dog.
• A doubleton is preferable to two singletons.
• When you have a long sequence of high tarots, with 2 oudlers in hand, and you wish to take the Dwarf from the Defense, it may be beneficial to eliminate a secondary long suit to avoid the Defense playing it as a winning trump.
• Keep a singleton if there is no better option.
• When you expose two absent suits, it is better to use the Dwarf in response to the second suit.

If you have in hand:

• King and Queen in a suit of 5 or 6: One has a very good chance of taking two tricks, and therefore one keeps the Queen. Above this number, if one cannot exhaust the tarots, one should discard the Queen.
• Queen and Knight: in general both are kept when they are part of a suit with 5 or 6 cards. In the case of a shorter suit, it depends; if one needs to keep control in that suit, they should be retained, if not, one can keep the knight, but if you need guaranteed points, discard both.
• Queen in a suit of 3 or 4: usually you will want to discard the Queen.
• King, Queen, Knight in a suit of 7 or 8: if you have tarots in similar number, it is necessary to keep all three to close play sfter exhaustion of the tarots. If you are weak in tarots, discard the Queen and Knight.
• King, Queen, Knight in a suit of 5 or 6: discard the Queen and keep the other two. Exception: if the Taker has a good hand, with enough tarots to purge all the tarots of the Defense (a minimum of 8 and only one absent suit) then the Queen may stay.
• King and Knight: a classic dead end if both are kept--but don't discard the Knight if it's impractical.
• Queen and Jack, or Knight and Jack: save them in a long suit to take the final tricks, and in case it is necessary to regain control.
• Jack and 10: don't save them in the hope of winning tricks unless there is no other option.

Game Plan

The law of symmetry is very important. If you have an irregular hand, one can assume the suits are likewise distributed irregularly in the Defense.

	Strong in Points	Weak in Points	In General
Strong in Tarots	Exhaust Defense's tarots by playing a sequence of tarots. But consider playing your odd loser cards so you won't have to throw them in the final tricks. Lead the Dwarf in the final trick.	Don't use your tarots until you have eliminated your loser cards. As soon as you have exhausted your long suit, do not hesitate to play tarots.	Eliminate your loser cards in order of priority. You can play a short suit (singleton or doubleton) to "smoke out" honors.
Weak in Tarots	Play long honors first to exhaust the Defense's tarots. Pay attention to playing the Dwarf at the end under favorable conditions.	Play your long suit. Trump with the Dwarf as soon as possible. Pray.	Don't play short suits.

Playing the Dwarf Last

The Dwarf is in a set of 9 Tarots or more...

• Play tarots when you have strong suits.
• If your tarots are weak, play a few midrange tarots (12 to 14) to force out the Defense's major tarots.
• Don't play tarots if your suits are weak or you have a suit without honors.
• Play tarots only after your long suit is depleted.
• If the Defense is hunting for the Dwarf, play a weak tarot.

The Dwarf is in a set of 7 or 8 Tarots...

• Don't play tarots unless you have 6 or 7 major tarots and a full long suit.
• With strong tarots, play the weakest suit in response to the Defense hunting the Dwarf.
• Play your strong suit when the Defense is out of tarots.
• With weak tarots, play your long suit, king first.

The Dwarf is in a set of 6 Tarots or fewer...

• It is possible to save the Dwarf with a long, strong suit and the three highest tarots to block a chase and regain control.
• With 3 oudlers in hand, 6 tarots can preserve the contract using the two certain oudlers.

You decide to play the Dwarf last...

• Even with 10 tarots you must remain vigilant to unfavorable distributions.
• It is often desirable to play one or two tarots to clarify the situation and to detect a lopsided distribution.
• In the event of overtrumping, it is necessary to play a 15 or 16 tarot as soon as possible to limit future attempts.

When possible, that is, when you have many and powerful tarots, you must exhaust your long suit by playing the lowest valued cards first, until the number of cards of that suit in the Defense is less than or equal to your point cards and high tarots. (But pay attention to the Excuse.)

When the Defense has no more tarots, you must assure a minimum of tricks taken (for example, by playing average honors, losing a jack to win a knight...)

Hunting the Dwarf

Capturing the Dwarf is easier when you have an oudler in hand.

By eliminating tarots you protect your honor cards from trumping.

Don't destroy your hand in an attempt to hunt down the Dwarf.

With two absent suits and one long suit without honors, and with 6 to 8 tarots, do not try to hunt the Dwarf unless all the tarots are high-value.

With a long suit without honors, avoid playing tarots especially if your ability to catch the Dwarf is doubtful.

With very strong suits, you may find it beneficial to hunt the Dwarf, even in the absence of the major tarots, since you eliminate or reduce the risk of trumped honors.

With a significant succession of hight tarots (16 to 21) and low suits, it is preferable to try to take the Dwarf without exhausting all the Defense's tarots by playing the least high tarot (16) in the hope that the Dwarf is vulnerable.

In order to launch a successful hunt, one must have at least:

• (with 7 tarots in hand): the five highest tarots;
• (with 8 or 9 tarots): the four highest tarots + 16;
• (with 10 tarots): the four highest tarots;
• (with 11 [12] tarots): the three highest + 17 [or 16, 15];
• (with 13 or 14 tarots): the three highest;
• (with 15 [16] tarots): the two highest + 18 [or 17, 16];
• (with 17 tarots): the two highest;
• (with 18 tarots): 21.

Main Play

• If you have a long suit with 5 or 6 cards including the king, play the king first and continue in that suit from weakest card to strongest until it is exhausted.
• If you have a long suit with 5 or 6 cards including both king and queen, play king then queen [except if the knight was played on the king's trick or it was trumped], then the lesser cards.
• If you have a long suit with 5 or 6 cards including the king, knight and jack, play the king, then the jack [except if the queen was played on the king's trick or it was trumped], then the small cards, saving the knight for when the Defense's tarots are gone.
• If you have a long suit with 7 or 8 cards including the king, play the king and then the small cards.
• If you have a long suit with 7 or 8 cards including the king and queen, play the queen and the small cards, keeping the king for when the Defense's tarots are exhausted. But: if your tarots are short, play the king then queen [except if the knight was played on the king's trick or it was trumped].
• If you have a suit of 5 or more cards without the king but with the queen and knight, play the knight, then the queen [except if the knight were trumped].
• If you have a suit of 7 or more without the king but with the queen and knight, play the knight then small cards, saving the queen for when the Defense's assets are exhausted.
• Toward the end, when the defenders have no more tarots to play, in order to play a queen-knight-jack-10 sequence, you should play the queen or the knight over the jack or the 10 to be sure that the king falls while the other defenders still have cards in that color and so they will not throw in points.
• Beginner's mistake: Don't play your isolated kings; save them to regain control of the hand.