French Tarot Glossary: from A to L

A

AMBULANCE

Defensive play that consists of drawing the 21 of trumps to protect a possible Petit held by the defense. This play is used especially when the 21 is supported only by small trumps and is therefore vulnerable to an uppercut. However, the ambulance is not a very dynamic play and often has the drawback of setting up declarer’s trumps.

AVOIDANCE PLAY

A play that aims to prevent a particular player from gaining the lead.

B

BLANK

Describes a hand, suit, or dog that contains no significant cards.

BLOCKING

A situation in which a suit can no longer be played (or continued) because the player on lead has no cards left in that suit, or holds only high cards that block communication. Classic example in trumps: my partner leads the 7 of trumps to hunt the Petit, and I hold 21-20-10. If I play the 10, I block the trump continuation. I must first play 21 and 20, then the 10, to allow the suit to continue (unblocking).

BOTTOM

In duplicate play, the worst possible score on a deal when results are compared between teams.

C

CHARGE

Discarding an honor by a defender on a trick won (hopefully!) by partner.

D

DISCARD

The set of 6 cards that declarer sets aside from their hand before play begins. Some advice for good discards:

• Avoid creating two voids with a weak hand.
• Discard from weaker suits rather than stronger ones (Q-10-9 will take a trick more often than Q-2-1).
• Discard isolated and poorly protected honors, especially if they were seen in the dog.

DOG

The set of 6 cards that declarer adds to their hand after showing it to the defenders, before making the discard.

DOUBLETON

A suit containing exactly two cards in a hand.

DUCKING

A play in a suit or in trumps that begins with small cards even though the player holds one or more top cards. Example: as declarer, I want to hunt the Petit holding 21-20-19-15-12-9-7-6-2. I can draw top trumps immediately (an optimistic line, rewarded only if the Petit is no more than third in a hand) or lead the 2 of trumps, hoping the Petit won't escape on this lead. The second option is usually better percentage-wise.

Another example: as declarer, with no trumps left in play, I hold R-D-C-2-1 in a suit. I can cash from the top (which wins five tricks only when the suit splits 3-3-3 in defense — about a 10% chance) or duck the first round by leading the 1. Since I will usually have a loser in the suit, ducking is better: it concedes a trick early while everyone still follows suit, avoiding the risk of giving opponents valuable discards later. Ducking is therefore a safety play against an unfavorable break.

E

EXPLODE

To lose a high trump to an uppercut.

F

FINESSE

A play that attempts to win a trick with an intermediate card. A finesse is “free” when the player taking it plays last, and therefore canno't fail.

FORCE

To play a high-ranking card in trumps or a suit in order to prevent low opposing cards from winning the trick, or to establish a card in one’s own hand or partner’s hand.

FORK

A holding where intermediate cards are missing between high cards. Examples: R-C, 21-19, R-C-10.

FREE

In the expression “free excuse,” describes playing the Excuse by declarer on a trick that cannot be won, for example on the lead of the 21.

L

LOCK UP

To prevent an opponent from playing or saving a key card (Petit, honor, or an established card), either by the threat of a ruff or by keeping that opponent off lead.

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