All-Trump in coinche: rules and points
Updated
In All-Trump (TA), all four suits are trump at once. Each suit ranks as a trump, jacks first: the Jack is worth 14 and the 9 is worth 9 in every one of them.
The principle
In All-Trump, any suit is the master suit in its own trick: you must always follow the led suit and, where possible, play higher. However, nobody ruffs: once you are void in the suit led, you discard. Since all four jacks become top cards, the game turns into a duel of jacks and nines.
The All-Trump scale, card by card
| Card | Points (in every suit) |
|---|---|
| Jack | 14 |
| 9 | 9 |
| Ace | 6 |
| 10 | 5 |
| King | 3 |
| Queen | 1 |
| 8 and 7 | 0 |
These values apply to all four suits: spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs. No suit is privileged, and no trump suit is named, because everything is trump.
How many points are in an All-Trump deal?
| Where the points come from | Total |
|---|---|
| Spades (14 + 9 + 6 + 5 + 3 + 1) | 38 |
| Hearts | 38 |
| Diamonds | 38 |
| Clubs | 38 |
| Total in the cards | 152 |
| Last-trick bonus (10 de der) | 10 |
| Deal total | 162 |
That is the real change compared with a normal deal: the spread of points is completely different, since each suit weighs exactly 38 points instead of one trump suit at 62 and three plain suits at 30. The total is unchanged: 152 in the cards plus the 10-point last trick, so 162.
All-Trump compared with the normal game
| Card | Trump (normal game) | Plain suit | All-Trump |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack | 20 | 2 | 14 |
| 9 | 14 | 0 | 9 |
| Ace | 11 | 11 | 6 |
| 10 | 10 | 10 | 5 |
| King | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Queen | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 8 and 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The two figures to remember are the Ace dropping from 11 to 6 and the 10 falling from 10 to 5. The classic scale is detailed in the card values table, and the trick-by-trick method in counting points fast.
When to bid All-Trump and how to play it
All-Trump rewards hands rich in jacks and nines: those are the master cards in every suit, and each jack brings 14 points on its own. Two jacks backed by one or two nines already justify a real bid, while the same hand would be worth almost nothing at a classic trump contract. By contrast, a hand full of Aces and 10s (strong in the classic game) loses value in All-Trump: a lone Ace is only worth 6 points and loses to the jack and the nine of its suit.
In practice, count your jacks and nines before bidding, not your aces. And remember to throw your expensive small cards, such as the 5-point tens, on tricks your partner has already won. As always, adjust to your partner's bids. To keep every scale in front of you, the card values table puts them on one page.
Want to try the contract? Turn All-Trump on and start a free game on Coincheur.See also
FAQ
How much is the Jack worth in All-Trump?
The Jack is worth 14 points in All-Trump, in each of the four suits: the strongest card. The 9 is worth 9, the Ace 6, the 10 worth 5, the King 3 and the Queen 1.
How many points does an All-Trump deal contain?
162 points: 152 in the cards (38 per suit) plus the 10-point last-trick bonus, exactly like a classic deal.
Must you play higher in All-Trump? Can you ruff?
You must follow the led suit and, if you can, play a higher card. But nobody ruffs: once you are void in the suit led, you discard.
When should you bid All-Trump?
With a hand rich in jacks and nines, which are the masters in every suit. A hand full of Aces and 10s, strong in the classic game, loses value in All-Trump.