TRIX - PROFESSIONAL TIPS

People usually say this is the easier game of the two, as it's "just arranging cards in order", but while playing Trix Complex Partner, it's way more than that. You've gotta watch each move, remember crucial cards played by your partner, and have a great estimate of probabilities in order to finish before your opponents. Even though the chances are low, this is where you have to battle it if you want to play like a professional. I'll keep updating if I can think of more rules but for now I think these are the usual lines I keep barking at my friends :D


- If you have multiple J's, always open the suit of the 2 which belongs to your team first, then the suit whose 3 or 4 is in your hand, then the suit whose A is in your hand, and then the other suit of which you do not have any extreme end cards. 

This is because when you have extreme end cards of a suit, you should not be blocking it as you need it to reach there for yourself too. Always try to put yourself in such a position where you are able to keep playing your own suits, or even Passing, but not playing on your opponents suits while they're blocking yours.


- If you have multiple J's or have to choose between playing high cards of multiple suits, always play the suit of which you have a lower number. This is to let your partner know that you played this first (for a reason) even though you could have played another. 

Towards the end, it's likely that your partner will have the choice between playing this suit and another, and they must here remember that you played this so you might need this suit to advance more and play it for you. This little move can also win you games, so make sure you also read your partner's priority choices when they face them.


- If you are blocking suits and are forced to play something for the opponents, play the card that is closest to the end of the line. This reduces the chances of the next player (opponent) having the next card  and them playing for your suit(s). 

For example, if you have the options to play between a K or another Q, play the K first. Or if there are numbers, play the lower number first as you'll still be blocking a higher number of opponents suit's cards.


- If you have two or more consecutive cards of a suit, it's an advantage as you will be holding that suit for at least 2 rounds. If the 2 of this suit is with your team, play on. But if it's the opponents', you can play another card for your team, or even play one of the consecutive cards instead of another suit you're holding from your opponents. This is handy when you are blocking another suit but don't want to play it for them, and yet not Pass.


- If your opponents have three 2's (one with one person and two with the other), block the suit that's with one person for as long as you can. For the one with 2 suits, you can be flexible and play on and even finish one, as long as both have at least one suit still blocked by your team to make them play your suit until the end. 

It's actually unlucky to have just one 2 amongst your team because the team with three 2's can control the game as they have to block only one suit. It's not impossible tho, as with the right cards you can still win 350. For example, once me and my (favourite) partner, while playing Trix, had three 2's with him and none with me. He finished his cards first and I got second. 


- If you have all the 2's amongst your team it's also possible to come first and second (even though this is the rarest), by blocking the other team from the top. This means keep playing downwards for every suit, taking care of playing the right suit when you have multiple options. 

This means if you have, say, a 7 of a suit and the 8 and 3 of another, you must play the 8 first as you need it to reach the lower card in your hand, and then play the 7 on the next round, and so on until partnership, chemistry and luck get your team till the end of the line. And once I even came first and second with me and my partner both having two 2's each. That obviously means after my partner finished as first, my last card was a Q, and my opponents (unfortunately) had the K and A. Rarest ending but possible, so take care.


- If you have low cards towards the end and the opponents on both sides have 2's with them, always play the suit of the 2 on your left first, as this forces the player on your right to Pass, giving your partner a chance to finish his hand 1st, and then you could be 2nd or 3rd depending on who has the last 3. This is rare, but a simple choice of suit can result in an extra 50 positive point which may be crucial to your win.


PRIORITY LIST (Check this order to decide what to play on each turn):

1. Downwards for a suit of your team player with only one 2
2. Downwards for a suit of your team player with two or three 2's
3. Upwards for a suit of which you have the Ace
4. Downwards for the suit of the opponent's 2 of which you have a low card (3 or 4)
5. Upwards for any suit
6. Downwards for the opponent's suit who has two or more 2's
7. Downwards for the opponent's suit who has only one 2