Oh Hell Strategy: 7 Tips

In Oh Hell every trick is either exactly right or a disaster. These seven habits make the bids come true. New here? Read the rules first.

1. Count only sure tricks

The ace of trumps is a trick. The king of trumps usually is. A side ace is a trick in the big hands and a likely one in the small. Everything else is hope: don't bid on it.

2. Bid low with length

Six trumps sounds like six tricks; it's usually four or five, because the others can't follow and your small trumps win nothing. Bid what you can prove and keep a trump or two to lose with.

3. Watch the total

If the bids already add up to more than the tricks, somebody is going down. Bid a little lower; they'll be fighting over tricks you don't want.

4. Once you're made, dump

Hit your bid and the rest of the hand is about losing. Throw your biggest losers on tricks others want and keep the small cards for the end.

5. Lead to the bid

Need tricks: lead your winners now, before someone trumps them. Need none: lead your lowest card and let the others fight.

6. The hook is a weapon

When you're not the dealer, bid so that the dealer's natural bid becomes the forbidden one. They'll have to bid one off and play a hand they didn't want.

7. The one-card hand is arithmetic

With one card, a trump above the turned card wins most of the time; a low off-suit card loses most of the time. Bid accordingly, and remember the dealer can't make it add up.

Last updated 2026-10-20