The générale in coinche
Updated
The générale is the ultimate call: one player promises to win all 8 tricks alone, without help from their partner.
Definition
In a générale the declarer plays alone against the other three: the partner lays down cards but wins no trick for the team. It's an even tougher version of the capot that not every table plays.
How much is it worth?
A générale usually scores 500 points (double a capot), but the scale depends on local conventions. As it's a rare, high-risk call, agree on it before the game.
Générale or capot?
| Capot | Générale | |
|---|---|---|
| Who plays | the team (2 players) | one player |
| Goal | all 8 tricks | all 8 tricks |
| Contract value | 250 | 500 |
| Scored when made | 252 + 250 = 502 | 500 |
Example: a “safe” générale hand
Say you hold, in hearts: Jack, 9, Ace, 10, King, Queen, plus the Ace of spades and the Ace of clubs. You have the six highest trumps; only the 8 and 7 of hearts are out.
- If you're on lead, two rounds of trumps force out the 8 and the 7, since the others must follow in trumps.
- Your four remaining trumps and your two Aces are then all masters.
- If an opponent leads diamonds, you have none: you ruff and regain the lead.
Each of your eight cards wins its trick whatever the lead. Hands like this almost never happen, which is exactly why the générale is so rare: you need a hand that needs nobody.
The trap: your partner winning a trick
In a générale, you alone must win all eight tricks. If your partner takes one, even trying to help, the générale fails although the team won every trick. Your partner's job is to play low and never get ahead of you.
When it fails, most tables award the générale's value to the defence, but customs vary here too: some score it as a capot if the team took everything. If you're torn between the two, the capot is usually the more sensible call, since your partner's tricks count.
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FAQ
Is the générale played alone?
Yes: in a générale a single player commits to winning all 8 tricks, without relying on the partner's cards.
How much is a générale worth?
Most often 500 points, double a capot, but the exact scale depends on the table's conventions.
What happens if the declarer's partner wins a trick?
The générale fails, even if the team took all 8 tricks: it requires the declarer to win every one personally. How the failure is scored depends on the table's conventions.
With a huge hand, should you bid générale or capot?
There's no single answer. A générale only makes sense when your eight cards win on their own. As soon as you need a trick from your partner, the capot is the better fit.