Tips fivehundred

Bidding

Most of the gameplay comes from the bidding. Like in any trick-taking the game, the key is to being able to predict how many tricks you and your partner will take. What is your majority suit? Do you have the left or right bower of any suit? Do you have the joker? Do you have high cards in the non-trump suit? Any high sequential cards (A,K,Q) of off-suit?

If you want to bid a suit, but the opposing team has already bid in that suit, consider whether you want outbid them or keep your mouth shut and let them overbid.

A good rule of thumb is to expect 1 trump card owned by your partner and 1 in the blind.

Winning the bid means you get to modify and improve your hand. Keep this in mind--you may want to outbid someone if you think there are good cards in the blind or that no one has anything good. If you can void yourself of one suit, that sets you up nicely to take control when needed.

A bid or inkle for "No Trump" usually indicates to your partner that you have the joker, but are not strong in any particular suit.

Be aware if the opposing team is making a bid which will win them the game.

I don't know why, but it seems like there are some people who bid boldly and always make them. Others need to bid conservatively for the sure thing, and build up. Figure out which type of person you are.

Play

The goal of gameplay is to rid the opposing team of trump cards. Play your highest trumps first (joker, left bower, right bower, ace...) to void both opponents of that suit. That guarantees they won't be able to trump your off-suit. Then pass the lead to your partner while you (hopefully) still have some trump cards to take control if needed.

Count cards of the trump suit as they are played to know how many are left (there are 12).

Never override your partner. If your partner is going to win the bid, let them. A key to winning is trading the lead back and forth with your partner. If they lead low, they are expecting you to play high and win the trick. Hold the higher card for later.

Starting the round with an off-suit card (the Ace, naturally) is a nice way to gauge what cards each person has from the start. Useful when you have a lot of trump.

When playing "No Trump", get rid of your lowest cards first.