Automatic Smudge Win

A bid of 4 in Auction Pitch is a smudge (some tables say “shooting the moon”): you promise to take every point in the hand, High, Low, Jack and Game. Normally, making it scores 4 like any other made bid.

With Automatic Smudge Win, making a smudge wins the game on the spot, whatever the score.

The details

• You must take all four points. If the Jack wasn’t dealt, it can’t be taken and the smudge can’t be made.
• Not from the hole. If your side is below zero when the hand starts, a made smudge just scores 4.
• A failed smudge is set back 4, the same as any missed bid.
• With Partners, it is the team’s points that count, and the team that wins.

Why it’s casual

One lucky hand can end a game no matter how far behind you were, so games played with this rule never count toward anyone’s rating. Tables using it are always casual.

This variant needs Auction Pitch.