The Schnapsen Log

June 19, 2012

Get Out of the Way

Martin Tompa

The competition with your archrival Itell Reding continues at the Black Eagle Club’s weekly tournament. Can you close the gap further in this critical game against him? The pressure is starting to get to you, and he still looks as calm as if he were already the winner.

Unseen cards:
♠ TQ
♥ AQ
♣ T
♦ T

Your cards:
♠ AKJ
♥ K
♣ Q
♦ —

Trump: ♥J
Stock: 1 face-down card
Game points: Itell 1, You 3
Trick points: Itell 7, You 40
On lead: You

You’ve built up a nice point lead in this deal, but in doing so you have nearly run out of winners. This leaves you in an awkward position on this lead. Itell leans back in his chair and sneers at you, egging you on. Plan your play. When you think you have a good plan, you are welcome to read my analysis.

© 2012 Martin Tompa. All rights reserved.

Comments

blog comments powered by Disqus

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.