Defender
Definition
One of the three players opposing the picker and partner. Defenders work together to capture 60+ points.
Defender in play
The three defenders rarely know for certain who their allies are until the called Ace appears, so early defense is partly detective work. Their shared goal is 60 points (the picker's team needs 61), and good defenders coordinate by schmearing points onto whoever is winning a trick for their side while starving the picker of trump. Watching who schmears toward the picker is the fastest way to unmask the hidden partner.
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Related Terms
Picker
The player who took the blind. They're the "captain" of their team and score double points (win or lose).
Partner
The player holding the called Ace who teams up with the picker. The partner's identity is secret until the called Ace is played.
Points
The scoring value of cards: Aces=11, Tens=10, Kings=4, Queens=3, Jacks=2, 9/8/7=0. Total in deck: 120.