Declarer Challenge with the II Ultimo, trick 25 of 27. You are the Dealer and the Declarer. The piles are used up, and your opponent leads the 1
.
P1Forehand
2 cards
P1Your hand
Pad
- Still out: Q♣, Q♠ (your opponent's last two cards).
Which Tarok do you play so that your II wins the second-to-last trick?
Answer
The III. You hold no Diamond, so you must trump, and your opponent holds no Tarok, so either Tarok wins this trick. The III wins it, and you lead the II at trick 26, where nothing can beat it. Trump with the II now and it wins trick 25, one trick too early.
Rule: II Ultimo: the II wins the second-to-last trick, for 1 Victory Point, scored silently and only in the Declarer Challenge. In an Ultimo, a low Tarok wins one fixed trick near the end of the hand, the way the Pagat wins the last trick in the Pagat Ultimo.