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.
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.
Middle Positions
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.