2.3.7 Tricks

After the discard, in the next phase, the players start to play their cards in turn.

Each $1 has a $1, which is the first player to play in this trick. For the first trick, this is the first player, or the declarant in case of a declared slam (see section Slam declarations). There are as many tricks as cards in each player’s hand.

The first card played in a trick decides the $1 If the first card is a trump, then the lead suit is trumps. If the first card is the excuse, then the lead suit is that of the second card played.

A player can play:

• any card except for the called suit, with the exception of the called card itself, if this is the first trick, the first non-excuse card and there has been a call;
• any card of the lead suit, if there is one, in which case she $1;
• any trump stronger than the strongest so far, if she cannot play otherwise (she $1, and more specifically she $1);
• any trump, if she cannot do otherwise (she $1);
• any card, if she cannot do otherwise.

When all players have played a card, the rules decide of a $1, who will take all points in the trick and become the next trick leader.

The trick taker is the player who has played:

• the excuse, if this is the last trick and the excuse owner’s team has taken all other tricks so far;
• the strongest trump, in case a trump has been played;
• the strongest card of the lead suit.