Strategy: how to win at Bisqa

In Bisqa, the goal is not to win as many tricks as possible, but exactly as many as you said. Here are the ideas that separate a beginner from a player who keeps their lives until the end.

Not comfortable with the rules yet? Start with the complete rules.

1. Estimate your tricks before bidding

Before you speak, sort your cards into three groups:

• Sure cards: high hearts (king, queen, jack of ♥) and, with fewer players, high diamonds. They win a trick almost every time.
• Uncertain cards: low hearts and diamonds. They win if nobody has anything better.
• Losing cards: low clubs and spades. They are for taking nothing.

A good starting bid is your number of sure cards, plus some of the uncertain ones depending on the number of players. The bigger the table, the more likely an opponent holds something stronger: be careful with 6, 7 or 8 players. Do not count the ace of hearts as a trick: it is your insurance.

2. Use your bidding position

Bidding last gives you information: you know everyone else's bid. Add them up and compare with the number of cards.

• High total (the table is over-bid): everyone wants tricks, medium cards will often be beaten. Bidding low is safer.
• Low total (the table is under-bid): nobody wants tricks, some players will be forced to take them anyway. Your medium cards are worth more.

Mind the last bidder rule: one number will be forbidden. If it is exactly the bid you wanted, pick the one that leaves you room to adjust during play, often the one that means winning one more trick with your best card.

3. Play your tricks in the right order

• Take your sure tricks early when you need them: waiting too long can force you into an extra trick at the end.
• Dump dangerous cards when someone has already played higher: if a high heart is on the table, that is the time to let go of your medium diamond safely.
• Playing last in a trick is comfortable: you know exactly what it takes to win or lose. When you lead, play a card whose outcome does not matter to you.
• Remember the cards that fell. If the king and queen of hearts are gone, your jack of hearts becomes the boss.

4. Use the ace of hearts well

The ace of ♥ can win or lose any trick, at your choice. Its real strength is flexibility. Keep it for the end of the round, when you know exactly what you need: it will take the trick you are missing, or be played low if you already have your count. Playing it too early wastes your only rescue card.

5. Master the hidden round

In the one-card round you see every card but yours. You win the single trick only if your card beats the best card you can see. Count the cards that beat it and divide by the number of cards you cannot see (41 minus the number of players).

Bidding 1 and losing costs a life; bidding 0 and winning costs a life too. So bid 1 when your chance is above 50 %. The simple rule: if you see a heart or a diamond, bid 0; if the best card you see is a club or a spade, bid 1. Then adjust with the others' bids: they can see your card.

6. Manage your lives

• With many lives, you can try ambitious bids when your hand allows it.
• With few lives, prefer bids you can correct: very strong or very weak cards are easier to control than medium ones.
• Watch the others: a player on 1 life will play very carefully, and their choices are easier to predict.

7. Beginner mistakes

• Bidding high with a nice hand without considering the number of players.
• Forgetting that an extra trick costs as much as a missing one.
• Playing the ace of hearts on the first trick.
• Not looking at the cards already played before choosing yours.