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Hoşkin bidding: the 550 opening, raises, passes, and contract risk

Understand bidding turns, valid amounts, the lasting effect of a pass, and what a high contract means for the team.

Bidding turns the potential of a hand into a scoring commitment. The goal is not simply to name the largest number, but to accept an amount the team can plausibly meet by round end. The app validates both turn order and amount against canonical rules.

This section is strategy guidance, not an enforceable game rule.

The 550 threshold

With no prior amount, the first valid bid is at least 550. A smaller bid is rejected. Once a high bid exists, every new amount must be greater; repeating it or moving backward is not valid.

Raise steps

The interface supports +10, +20, +30, +40, and +50. If the high bid is 550, selecting +20 means an offer of 570. Selecting a step does not finish the action by itself: the submitted amount is validated again on the server against turn and current state.

What passing changes

Passing means leaving that auction. A player who passes does not receive another bid turn in it. If all players pass before any amount, the auction may pass out; when a valid bid exists, the other three players passing completes the contract.

Contract and trump authority

The highest valid bidder becomes the contract winner. Their team commits to the amount, and the winner chooses trump. The commitment depends on team support as well as the bidder's cards, but the partner's hand remains hidden, so uncertainty is part of the decision.

Reading risk

This is decision guidance: high cards support trick potential, while valid combinations show declaration value in advance. Neither guarantees the result. Because a failed contract applies the amount as a penalty, separate secure declaration points from expected trick points before bidding high.

Confirm that it is your turn and read the minimum valid amount before acting. Both a raise and a pass have lasting consequences, so choose from visible evidence rather than a promised outcome.

Related guides

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