Declarer Challenge with the II Ultimo, trick 24 of 27. You are the Dealer and the Declarer. The piles are used up, and your opponent leads the XX.
P1Forehand
3 cards
P1Your hand
Pad
- Still out: Q♦, J♠, C♠ (your opponent's last three cards).
Which Tarok do you play so that your II can win the second-to-last trick?
Answer
The XXI. You must follow the Tarok lead, and the XXI wins it; the XX was your opponent’s last Tarok. Then lead a Club at trick 25: they hold no Club and no Tarok, so you win it and lead the II at trick 26. Play the II now and the XX takes it.
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.