Gong Zhu Strategy: 6 Tips

Gong Zhu rewards patience and a good memory. Rules first? See how to play.

1. Get rid of the Pig

The Q♠ costs 100 points to whoever takes it. If you hold it, play it the moment you are void in a suit or when a higher spade is already in the trick.

2. Hunt the Sheep carefully

The J♦ is worth +100, but winning the trick that holds it may also hand you hearts. Chase it when you are last to play or the trick is otherwise clean.

3. Keep low cards

Small cards let you duck under the winner and avoid taking points. Lead your middle cards early while others still follow with high ones.

4. Count the hearts

Thirteen hearts, 200 points. Track which have gone so you know whether a long heart lead is safe and whether anyone could collect them all.

5. The Doubler cuts both ways

Taking the 10♣ with the Sheep gives +200; taking it with the Pig gives −200. Dump it on a trick someone else will win when that player is collecting bad cards.

6. Watch the scores

Near −1000, the player in danger will take risks and the leaders will play safe. Adjust: feed the leader the Pig, not the one about to lose.

The hard computer samples the hidden hands and plays each candidate out to the end of the hand; normal uses sound single-trick tactics; easy plays a random card half the time.

Last updated 2026-10-21