The Schnapsen Log

September 29, 2012

What Else Can Be Inferred?

Martin Tompa

You are doing well so far in this match against the flamboyant Katharina at the Black Eagle club. Let’s see what the next deal brings.

Unseen cards:
♠ Q
♥ TQ
♣ TQ
♦ J

Your cards:
♠ —
♥ —
♣ AK
♦ ATQ

Trump: ♦K
Stock: 1 face-down card
Game points: Katharina 4, You 4
Trick points: Katharina 30, You 16
On lead: Katharina

Now that you’ve caught up in game points, Katharina is more focused, which is a scary sight. She studies her hand, looks you square in the eye, and leads ♠Q. 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.