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♠ could tie up the 10’s. He therefore discards the K♥.
Player B – He picks the K♦ from the deck, which although dead safe, offers him one additional offensive chance. He retains it, and discards the 3♦ as being the safest, most unusable card in his hand. He is not concerned with a knocking card until he has at least his second meld.
Player A – Going to the deck, he pulls the J♦. This card now actually has him set up nine melded, which he can achieve by picking either the 10♠ or the J♣. He therefore discards the 8♠ which leaves him in a knocking position if he picks nine melded.
Player B – Obtains the 6♦ from the deck, which adds greatly to his offensive possibilities and gives him a choice of discarding either the 9♥ or the K♦. He has noted that his opponent’s first discard, was the K♥ and the second was the 8♠. He is justifiably concerned about discarding any wild cards between these ranks. Therefore, giving up his one offensive chance with the K♦, he discards it.
Player A – Draws the 9♠ from the deck, which again adds to the offensive properties of his hand. The retention of this card and the discard of the Q♣ gives him one additional offensive opportunity. In calculating the defensive value of both cards, we find that the Q♣ represents a value of four, and the 9♠ represents a value of two. At this stage though of the game, the extra melding value of the 9♠ outranks the defensive value of the Q♣ and the Q♣ is discarded.
Player B – Takes the Q♣ discard. At this stage of the game he has chosen to retain the full strength of his 5♥-6♥ or 6♦-7♦ combinations. He then throws the 9♥.
Player A – Takes the 9♥ discard and knocks his hand successfully.