The Schnapsen Log

August 2, 2012

Make a Virtue of Necessity

Martin Tompa

The cake is gone, the coffee is refilled and steaming, and Peter still sits across from you at the Café Abeles, with Lore kibitzing. You couldn’t be more content. You and Peter have each shown a marriage and the trick point score is dead even.

Peter: (46 points)
♠ A
♥ —
♣ TK
♦ TJ

You: (46 points)
♠ TQ
♥ K
♣ —
♦ AQ

Trump: ♦
Stock: Exhausted
Game points: Peter 3, You 4
On lead: You

What do you do now? This is no time to let your mind wander. 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.