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The First Hand Dilemma
wizard - 4-26-2022 at 03:17 PM

There is a feeling that hand number 1 is problematic. In the 007 version, it is discarded completely. The reason given for this is that it is a crapshoot. I do not agree. Certainly, your position is a factor. It is easier to bid last than first, but this is true for all bidding situations. What do you know that will not make your bid simply luck? You know what card you hold in your hand. You know what is Trump. You know how many players will bid after you. These 3 factors remove your bid from the 'crapshoot' category.
1. Your card: Holding either a Wizard or a Jester you know exactly what to bid. Holding a 10-J-Q-K-A of Trump you have to decide whether to bid 1 or 0.
2. What is Trump: Holding a card that is not trump you will bid zero. If it is a No-Trump hand you may want to bid 1 with an Ace or King.
3. Number of Players: There can be 5, 4, 3, or 2 bids after yours. The fewer the number of players the better your chances of winning with a high trump card or an Ace or King in No Trump.
It is no Crapshoot!