When the stock is exhausted the last eight tricks are played, and the card game takes on a rather different character. Now, if a player has a card of the suit that has been led he must play it, and he must win a trick if he is able to. No further declarations may be made, and the aim of the player is to win brisques and the last trick, for which to points are scored.

The deal passes to the other player, and so alternately, until one of them has reached an agreed number of points, usually 2,000.

The score cannot be kept satisfactorily with pencil on paper. It is best to use the special bezique markers that take the form of indicators marked as clocks on thin cardboard.

The following deal, played by two experienced players, illustrates many of the finer points of good poker play.

South dealt, and the hands were as in the illustration opposite.
Clubs were trumps, the ♣ 10 having been turned up.

The turn-up card is important because it is a sequence card, and a high one at the since it ranks immediately below the Ace.

The main features of North’s hand are that he holds two sequence cards (the ♣ Q and ♣ J), a 7 of trumps to exchange for the valuable t 10, and three Queens, which put him well on the way to a declaration of four Queens.

The main features of South’s hand are a bezique Queen (the ♠ Q) and three low trumps, including the 7; but, of course, as yet South does not know that North holds both the Queens of trumps, so that a sequence for him is impossible. It is South’s lead, and it is necessary for him to win a trick to exchange the ♣ 7 for the ♣ 10.

An inexperienced poker player might be tempted to lead an indifferent card, such as the ♥ 7, hoping that North will have nothing to declare and will refuse to win the trick. This, however, is very artless play, and the better play is for South to lead his highest trump because it compels North to use a sequence card if he wants to take the trick and make a declaration. So

Trick 1 South led the ♣ 9. North, who appreciated the importance of the turn-up card, won with the ♣ Q. This was North’s best play, although it suffers from the defect that it reduces North’s best chance of declaring four Queens, and it informs South that he has virtually no hope of a sequence because North would hardly online poker play a sequence card if he lacked a duplicate. North exchanged the ♣ 7 for the turn-up card, and scored 10 points. He drew the ♣ K (giving him no fewer than four of the five sequence cards), and South the ♥ 9.

Trick 2 North led the ♦ 9, and South played the ♥ 7. North declared the royal marriage and scored 40 points, making his total 50 points. North drew the ♥ K, and South the ♥ A.

Trick 3 North led the ♥ 7, and South played the ♦ 9. North declared the common marriage in hearts and scored 20 points, making his total 70 points. North drew the ♣ A, and South the ♥ J.

Trick 4 North now held a sequence, but, in order to declare it, he had first to win a trick. A heart must be led, and he chose the Queen. Undoubtedly it was the best lead. The ♥ A is not a good lead, because, if trumped, it will cost North a brisque; and it is better for North to save for four Kings, instead of for four Queens, because not only does it gain 20 more points, but North had already played a Queen so the chance of drawing a Queen was slightly less than that of drawing a King.

South played the ♥ 9. North declared his ♣ A, 10, J, and scored 250 points for the sequence, giving him a total of 320 points. South had not yet scored. North drew the ♠ 10, and South the ♦ J.

At this point the poker hands were as in the illustration above.