The Schnapsen Log

May 10, 2012

From a Position of Strength

Martin Tompa

The rivalry with your sister Emmi continues. She is annoying you by once again being ahead, against all reason. Let’s see what you can do about it.

Unseen cards:
♠ AK
♥ AKQ
♣ T
♦ KJ

Your cards:
♠ Q
♥ —
♣ AJ
♦ AT

Trump: ♦Q
Stock: 3 face-down cards
Game points: Emmi 4, You 7
Trick points: Emmi 12, You 19
On lead: You

You’ve got to like the cards you’re looking at. What nags at you are all the possible cards your sister could be holding and what she has up her sleeve. Plan your play. When you think you have a good plan, you are welcome to read my analysis.

© 2012 Martin Tompa. All rights reserved.

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About the Author

Martin Tompa (tompa@psellos.com)

I am a Professor of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington, where I teach discrete mathematics, logic, probability, design and analysis of algorithms, and other related courses. I have always loved playing games. Games are great tools for learning to think logically but, more important, seem to me an integral part of happy family or social life. I will be delighted if game-players, parents, teachers, and students find this series fun and useful.

My excitement about Schnapsen was rekindled by playing against an iPhone program called Master Schnapsen/66 written by two friends at Psellos. Set to play at its “Master” level of difficulty, this program is one of the two most formidable opponents I have found. It comes up with surprising and brilliant plays, and I have learned an enormous amount of Schnapsen strategy by playing with it. Nearly every deal in this Schnapsen Log arose during those hours of playing with Master Schnapsen/66.