Board Game Arena - User contributions [en]

Tips ninetynine

2020-05-11T05:18:05Z

Quasarduke: Created page with "There are three players and nine tricks. Therefore: if in doubt, bid three. Note that the four suits differ in trick-taking potential according to to their differences in bi..."

There are three players and nine tricks. Therefore: if in doubt, bid three.

Note that the four suits differ in trick-taking potential according to to their differences in bidding value. Since the average bid is three, and the various ways of representing this are [club diamond diamond], [heart spade diamond] and [spade spade spade], it follows that diamonds and spades are more likely to be out in bids than hearts and clubs. Given an average distribution, clubs and hearts are therefore usually all in play and will go round at least twice without being ruffed, so their Aces and Kings are usually reliable trick-winners. Clubs are especially reliable as trumps, as it would be self-defeating to discard them in bids. At the opposite extreme, diamonds are very unreliable. The Ace is as often as not ruffed on the first diamond lead, and when diamonds are trumps there is usually at least one player who will discard three of them - especially Ace, King and Queen - for a plausible bid of zero.

Because you are aiming for an exact number, low cards are as important as probable trick-losers as high ones are as probable winners. Middle-ranking cards are unreliable in either respect, so it is usually best to discard Jacks, Tens and Nines as bid-cards and to retain Aces, Kings, Sevens and Sixes as trick-winners and losers respectively. This consideration will often lead you to the best of several possible bids.

Nevertheless, if you really cannot find a sensible way of bidding, a good ploy is to throw out three cards whose absence from play is most likely to upset everyone else, such as the top three trumps, or three Aces. You may not make your bid, but neither will anyone else, and if you should happen to win a majority of tricks, you will even gain on the deal!

If you have a middling card that may or may not win a trick, such as the Jack of Spades, lead it at the earliest opportunity in order to clarify the situation.

A no-trumper always favours the lead player. Never declare at no trumps unless you have the opening lead, or unless you have a cast-iron bid of zero (in any position).

(strategy from game designer's website: https://www.parlettgames.uk/oricards/ninety9.html)

Gamehelpninetynine

2020-05-11T05:13:59Z

Quasarduke:

Ninety-Nine is a 3 player trick taking game. Players bid at the beginning of each hand and are awarded points for each trick they take, plus a bonus for making their bid exactly. The game is named after the maximum number of points which can be earned in one hand.

Bidding in Ninety-Nine is different from other trick taking games. Players bid on how many tricks they think they will win by privately setting aside 3 cards from their initial hand; the bid is based on the suit of those cards. Diamonds are 0, Spades are 1, Hearts are 2, and Clubs are 3. At the end of the hand, each player gets 1 point for each trick they took. If any player takes exactly the number of tricks that they bid, they have made their bid. Bonus points are awarded based on how many players make their bid: 30 points for one player, 20 points for two players, 10 points for 3 players.

Players also have the opportunity at the beginning of each hand to gain bonuses by either declaring their bid publicly, or revealing their entire hand and bid. Only one bonus can be taken per hand, and the bonus is only granted if that player makes their bid. If the player misses their bid, the other two players get the bonus instead.

Help

2020-05-10T22:48:16Z

Quasarduke: Added Ninety-Nine to the list of games

Gamehelpninetynine

2020-05-10T22:44:54Z

Quasarduke: Created page with "Ninety-Nine is a 3 player trick taking game. Players bid at the beginning of each round and are awarded points for each trick they take, plus a bonus for making their bid exa..."

Ninety-Nine is a 3 player trick taking game. Players bid at the beginning of each round and are awarded points for each trick they take, plus a bonus for making their bid exactly. The game is divided into three rounds, or rubbers, which last until one player reaches 100 points. The player with the highest combined score from the three rounds is the winner. The game is named after the maximum number of points which can be earned in one hand.

Bidding in Ninety-Nine is different from other trick taking games. Players bid on how many tricks they think they will win by privately setting aside 3 cards from their initial hand; the bid is based on the suit of those cards. Diamonds are 0, Spades are 1, Hearts are 2, and Clubs are 3. At the end of the hand, each player gets 1 point for each trick they took. If any player takes exactly the number of tricks that they bid, they have made their bid. Bonus points are awarded based on how many players make their bid: 30 points for one player, 20 points for two players, 10 points for 3 players.

Players also have the opportunity at the beginning of each hand to gain bonuses by either declaring their bid publicly, or revealing their entire hand and bid. Only one bonus can be taken per hand, and the bonus is only granted if that player makes their bid. If the player misses their bid, the other two players get the bonus instead.