Player A - 5♣, 5♥, 5♠, K♣, Q♣, 10♠, 9♣, 8♠, 6♦, 3♥, A♥
Player B - Q♠, Q♦, J♦, 8♥, 7♥, 7♦, 4♣, 4♦, 3♠, 2♦

Conditions: In this hand, count is no particular problem since both players are on score. The knock card is the 4♥.

General Comment: Even though Player A has a meld, Player B’s hand appears to be in a better winning position, since all his cards are combined in some way with the sole exception of the 3♠.

Play of the Hand:

Player A – Since he is playing without the consideration of count, his first discard is the 9♣.

Player B – Draws the J♠ from the stock. This card adds to his hand four additional melding possibilities. He throws the 3♠.

Player A – Picks the K♦, which gives him another combination. He throws his most useless card, the 6♦.

Player B – Going to the deck, he pulls the J♣. His problem at this moment is which of the various combinations he is...

Player A - 9♠, 8♠, 7♠, J♣, 10♣, 9♣, J♠, 8♥, 3♥, 2♣, A♥
Player B - 4♦, 3♦, 2♦, Q♣, J♦, 10♥, 4♥, 2♥, 2♠, A♣

Conditions: This hand is being played as a four-point knock with the score 169 to nothing against the dealer. The dealer therefore has a gin safe count of five and must protect against losing 31 points at all times on a knock.

Play of the Hand:

Player A – In order to decide his first discard, eh realizes that a knocking four-point hand normally requires nine melded. His particular hand at this point offers only one opportunity for a quick nine melded the 2♣. Because of his low cards he also has the added advantage in this particular hand of being able to knock quickly with eight melded if he is fortunate enough to buy the 10♠, or if he is fortunate enough to buy two add-ons, which are readily available with the type of melds he wants. His choice of discards is limited to the 8♥ and 2♣. In this particular...

Player A - K♥, Q♠, J♣, J♦, 10♦, 8♥, 7♥, 7♣, 6♦, 2♣, A♣
Player B - K♣, K♦, 10♠, 9♦, 9♣, 6♥, 5♣, 5♦, 2♥, A♥

Conditions: This hand is being played as the opening hand and the knock card is the J♦.

General Comments: Player A is predominantly a defensive type of player, while Player B is basically an aggressive type of player.

Play of the Hand:

Player A – While having a discard choice of either the A♣ or the K♥, he releases the A♣ as being definitely safer since it can be used only one way.

Player B – While realizing that the A♣ is an important card in playing for a ten-point knock, he would rather, at this stage of the game, have his pick from the deck. He draws the 6♣ from the deck, which adds tremendously to his offensive possibilities. He throws back the A♥ rather than the 10♠, not because he feels his opponent may use the 10♠, but when playing against a defensive payer it is...

Player A - 10♠, 10♥, 10♣, 6♦, 5♦, 4♦, J♠, 7♣, 6♣, 5♠, A♠
Player B - K♦, J♥, 10♦, 9♣, 8♠, 7♠, 7♦, 6♥, 5♥, A♥

Conditions: Player B is on a schneid and has a safe count of eight. The knock card is 8♦.

Player A – His first discard will be based on whatever card represents his best offensive value at this time. He will not throw the obvious J♠ for two reasons. First, he has an opportunity to change his meld of three 10’s into a spade run, which will offer two opportunities to complete to a four-card run, as against the one opportunity the three 10’s afford him. Second, with the score as it stands, he is not interested in reducing his opponent’s hand by any sizable meld. Therefore, his choice is between the 5♠ and the A♠. Although the 5♠ would be thrown from a pair and is also a salesman, he does not throw it on the first card since at this stage it would be marked as an obvious salesman and could also tie...

Player A - J♥, 10♦, 9♦, 5♦, 5♠, 4♥, 3♥, 3♦, 2♣, 2♠, A♠
Player B - 10♠, 8♣, 8♦, 7♠, 6♥, 4♦, 3♠, 3♣, A♥, A♦

Conditions: The knock card is the J♦. The hand is of no particular significance at this time since everybody is on score and nobody is high enough to make a hand dangerous as far as going out and ending a given game is concerned. However, because they are playing automatic doubles with both players on score, the score itself will represent a healthy advancement for whoever wins.

General Comment: On the deal, neither hand appears to be a gin hand, but each looks like one which can be knocked rather quickly. Both hands will require only six melded cards since they already contain four cards low enough to be knocked within the 10 point limit.

Play of the Hand:

Player A – Throws the J♥, his highest and most useless card.

Player B – Picks the Q♦ from the deck, which he discards.

Player...

Player A - A♣, A♥, A♠, K♥, 10♣, 10♥, 9♥. 8♣, 4♦, 2♠, 2♥
Player B - K♠, Q♥, 9♠, 7♥, 7♦, 5♣, 4♥, 4♠, 3♣, A♦

Conditions: The knock card is the 8♣. The first two games have ended and since both players are on score, the last game is being played as a double hand. Player A has 211 on score, while Player B has 230. Neither has a gin count. Player A must protect against losing ten points on a knock, while Player B must protect against losing 20 points on a knock.

Play of the Hand:

Player A – Seeing the possibility of a quick win with his hand, he discards the K♥.

Player B – Picks from the deck the 2♣. He sees no possibility of a quick win with his hand and will play it extremely safe. He therefore discards the K♠.

Player A – Going to deck, he buys the 7♠. Since the game is in jeopardy, he discards the 2♥. It is his safest discard, and also sacrifices the least offensive possibilities....

Player A - K♣, K♥, Q♠, J♠, 9♥, 8♦, 7♣, 7♥, 2♠, 2♦, A♣
Player B - Q♥, Q♣, J♦, 10♠, 9♦, 9♣, 5♦, 5♠, 2♥, A♠

Conditions: This is the third hand of a game. Player A has already scored in the first two games and if he wins this hand the score will be entered in all three games. The knock card is the 2♥.

General Comment: Player A is aware of the fact that the odds are at least 4 to 1 in his favor and perhaps 8 to 1 in the event of a schneid. The dealer is also aware of the odds. Although both are expert players who normally play a middle of the road game, Player A will play more aggressively and Player B will play more defensively than normal. The advantages to each are increased because of the double value of the hand created by the 2♥ knock.

Play of the Hand:

Player A – Discards the 8♦ as the most useless card in his hand, but it is also a salesman. In addition, if his opponent takes it, he will...

Player A - 10♥, 10♣, 10♦, 8♣, 7♣, 6♣, K♥, Q♣, 9♦, 8♠, A♠
Player B - 4♠, 3♠, 2♠, Q♦, Q♥, 9♥, 7♦, 6♥, 5♥, 3♦

Conditions: This hand is being played as the second hand of a set. Player A, having won the first hand, is on score in the first game. The knock card is the 3♦.

Play of the Hand:

Player A – He realizes that in order to achieve a three-point knock he will have to play the hand for nine melded. Since it is an extremely strong offensive hand, he takes into full consideration the offensive value of the Q♣ and the 9♦, and the three 10’s. Since a pick of either the J♣ or 8♦ will then give him a perfect setup for nine melded, his first discard is therefore limited to the K♥, 8♠, or A♠. The A♠ has a relative value to him in this situation as a knock card, so the thought of discarding it is immediately eliminated. The K♥ cannot tie up any card that would be beneficial to him, whereas the 8♠...

Player A - K♦, K♠, Q♥, 9♠, 9♥, 7♣, 6♥, 4♠, 4♣, 3♣, A♠
Player B - 10♦, 10♠, 10♥, 10♣, Q♦, J♠, 7♦, 2♦, A♣, A♥

Conditions: Two games are over. The knock card is the 8♠; thus the hand is being played double. Player A has 229 points on score, while Player B has 240 point son score. Both players are playing to win the game; both are extremely vulnerable even to a knock.

Player of the Hand:

Player A – Since his objective is to win the game, he discards the Q♥.

Player B – Going to the deck, he draws the J♣ and discards the Q♦.

Player A – Buys the 8♣ form the deck and throws the 9♥ because the pair of 9’s would represent a duplicate value, together with the 7♣, 8♣. The 9♥ is the safer of the two 9’s since the Q♥ has already been discarded and he holds the 6♥.

Player B – Picks from the deck, the 9♦ and discards it as a dead card.

Player A – Going to...

Player A – 8♠, 8♦, 8♣, 10♦, 9♣, 6♥, 6♣, 4♣, 3♣, 3♥, A♦
Player B - K♣, Q♣, J♣, 10♣, 10♠, 7♦, 3♦, 3♠, 2♠, A♣

Conditions: This hand is the third hand of a set. Player A has already scored on the first two games, while Player B has not scored on any. The knock card is a 2♠, so it is a double hand.

Play of the Hand:

Player A – Having the odds in his favor, he throws his most useless card, the A♦. He is more concerned with retaining all of his combinations than holding a knock card at this point.

Player B – Realizing that his hand must be played for nine melded in order to affect a knock, he has no interest in picking the A♦. He picks from the deck the 7♣ and discards his A♣.

Player A – Going to the deck, he draws the K♠ and discards it.

Player B – Picks the 5♦ from the deck and now discards the 10♠ as his safest choice. He realizes that it was a hanger on the end...

Player A - K♣, Q♣, J♣, K♠, 10♥, 9♣, 6♦, 5♥, 3♥, 3♠, 2♦
Player B - 6♣, 5♣, 4♣, 10♠, 9♦, 8♦, 8♠, 7♠, 2♣, A♦

Conditions: Knock card is the A♣, which means it is a must-gin hand. Player A has no count in any game. Player B has no count in the first game, a safe count of eight in the second game, and a safe count of 14 in the third game.

Play of the Hand:

Player A – Discards the K♠ as his safest card.

Player B – going to the deck, he pulls the 8♥ for six melded cards and throws the 10♠, since his first consideration is to get under the two counts that are available to him.

Player A – Draws the Q♦ from the deck and discards it as his safest card.

Player B – Obtains from the deck the Q♥ and discards it.

Player A – Picks the 9♠ and discards the 10♥.

Player B – Going to the deck, he obtains the J♠ and has a choice of discarding either it, which can be...