How to Play · Lesson 7 of 10

You're The Dealer

Pick up the upcard and choose discard to create a possible void.

The Dealer's Pickup

When you are the dealer and a player orders up the upcard, you take that card into your hand and discard one card face-down. You briefly hold six cards and choose which five to keep.

This discard is a genuine advantage — used well, it reshapes your hand in your favor.

Discard to Create a Void

The best discard often creates a void — emptying a suit from your hand entirely. Once you hold none of a suit, you can trump in when that suit is led instead of being forced to follow.

• Look for a singleton — a suit where you hold just one card. Discarding it creates a void in a single move.
• Discarding your lowest off-suit card is the usual default when no singleton is available.

What Not to Discard

• Never discard trump — every trump card is a potential trick, including the one you just picked up.
• Keep your Aces — off-suit Aces win tricks early before opponents run short of that suit.