Reneging: failing to follow suit or overtrump
A renege occurs when a player fails to follow suit when able, or fails to overtrump when required. These obligations are strict and penalties can change the result. Before each play, check whether you have the led suit and, if not, what the trump rules require.
Playing the Excuse too early
The Excuse is valuable because it is an oudler and can often be played without following suit. Players commonly waste it just to get rid of a card. Keep it for a moment when it protects a valuable card or avoids a difficult obligation, unless your plan calls for something else.
Using the wrong target
The taker does not always need “about half” the points. The target is 56 with no oudlers, 51 with one, 41 with two and 36 with three. Count the oudlers captured in the completed hand, including the Excuse where appropriate.
A poor discard
Throwing away an important trump or honour, or failing to create a useful short suit, can make a contract much harder. Remember that discards are subject to rules; use the official rulebook for tournament-level details.
Forgetting the trumps already played
Not tracking the 21, the Petit or the number of trumps still held can lead to avoidable losses. Count as you go, especially in the final tricks.
Arguing about the final score
Write each hand down clearly and check that all players’ scores sum to zero. A calculator or a score sheet is much safer than trying to remember several bonuses at once.