The Schnapsen Log

When Are Jacks in Hand Reassuring? (solution)

Martin Tompa

Here are the cards I was dealt recently, among which I was very happy to see those two jacks, in addition to the ♠J face-up on the table.

My cards:
♠ AKQ
♥ J
♣ —
♦ J

Trump: ♠J
Stock: 9 face-down cards
Game points: Opponent 7, Me 7
Trick points: Opponent 0, Me 0
On lead: Me

It’s obviously a joyful trump suit to be dealt, with the master trump and the royal marriage. I’m immediately thinking about closing the stock. But what’s so good about those two red jacks?

Let’s add up trick points and see what could possibly go wrong. If I close the stock and lead ♠A before declaring the marriage, I am guaranteed to collect 11 + 40 + 4 + 3 = 58 trick points, plus whatever my opponent contributes to these three tricks. As long as my opponent contributes at least 8 trick points, I will reach 66.

The only way my opponent can contribute fewer than 8 trick points is by discarding 2 or 3 jacks. But I can see 3 of the jacks from where I’m sitting, so my opponent holds at most one jack and must contribute at least 8 trick points to these three tricks. The jacks I can see give me a guarantee that closing the stock will succeed.

© 2015 Martin Tompa. All rights reserved.

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