When to Pick in Sheepshead
The most important decision in the game - should you pick or pass?
The Quick Answer
As a general rule: Pick with 4+ trump and a way to get 61 points.
But there's much more nuance. Position matters, trump quality matters, and what you can bury matters. Read on for the full picture.
What Makes a Picking Hand?
A good picking hand typically has:
✓ Trump Strength
- • 4-6 trump cards minimum
- • At least one Queen or Jack
- • Better if trump are high-ranking
✓ Bury Potential
- • Fail Aces to bury (11 points each!)
- • Tens in short suits
- • Ability to create voids
Trump Count Guidelines
Almost Never Pick
You'll get destroyed. Pass and play defense.
Risky - Need Great Extras
Only if you have multiple Aces to bury AND strong trump like Q♣, Q♠.
The Sweet Spot
Most picks happen here. Consider position and trump quality.
Almost Always Pick
Strong hand. Consider going alone if you have 7+ good trump.
Trump Quality Matters
Q♣ is the Boss Card
The Queen of Clubs is the most valuable card in Sheepshead. Leading Q♣ guarantees you win the first trick AND forces all 4 opponents to play trump. That's 5 trump out of play in one trick! If you have Q♣, add extra weight to picking.
The Ma's - Black Queens Together
Having both Q♣ and Q♠ (called "The Ma's") is extremely powerful. You control the top two trump and can pull 10 trump from opponents in just two tricks. With the Ma's, pick even with slightly fewer trump than normal.
Quality Over Quantity
Having Q♣ Q♠ J♣ J♠ (4 high trump) is often better than having 6 low trump like J♦ A♦ 10♦ K♦ 9♦ 8♦. High trump lets you control the game and pull trump from opponents.
Position Matters
Where you sit relative to the dealer affects your picking decision:
First Position (Left of Dealer)
Be more selective. You're committing before seeing if others want to pick. Need a solid hand - 5+ trump or 4 with great extras.
Second Position (Most Dangerous!)
Be extra careful here. Three players can still "go over" you (pick after you). If you pick weak and someone else has a monster hand, you're in trouble. Need a stronger hand than other positions.
Middle Position
Standard guidelines apply. Pick with 4+ good trump.
Late Position (Near Dealer)
If everyone passes, you can pick lighter hands. The blind might help! 3 trump with good extras becomes pickable.
Example Hands
✓ PICK This Hand
Q♣ J♠ J♦ A♦ 9♦ A♠
5 trump including a Queen and two Jacks. A♠ can be buried for 11 points. This is a strong picking hand.
⚠️ Borderline Hand
J♥ A♦ 10♦ 7♦ A♣ K♥
Only 4 trump and they're not great. But you have an A♣ to bury. Pick in late position, pass in early position.
✗ PASS This Hand
Q♦ 8♦ 7♦ A♣ A♠ K♣
Only 3 trump and they're all low. Those Aces look nice but you won't control the game. Pass and hope for a Leaster.
⚠️ Common Picking Mistakes
- ✗Picking on Aces alone - Fail Aces are great to bury, not to play. You need trump to win tricks.
- ✗Counting low diamonds as "good" trump - 7♦, 8♦, 9♦ are trump but they won't win tricks.
- ✗Picking weak hands because you're bored - Patience! A bad pick hurts for multiple hands.
- ✗Always picking in last position - Position helps, but 2 trump is still 2 trump.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Think about the bury first - What will you bury? If you can't bury 10+ points, reconsider.
- ✓Count potential trump - The blind has 2 cards. Assume 0-1 trump on average.
- ✓Value voids - Being void in a fail suit lets you trump in. Very valuable!
- ✓Consider your partner - You'll call an Ace, so you have help. Don't need to win alone.