The Ghna in Touti: rules, points and strategy

A player has a Ghna when they hold the Rey (12) and the Cabal (11) of the same suit. Both cards must be in the same hand: your Rey and your partner's Cabal don't make a Ghna. It is also called "compte" (the name of the bidding signal that tells your partner about it).

These points are added to the card points (the Rey and Cabal still count their 4 and 3 points if they are won in a trick).

Only the declaring team (the team that won the auction) can declare Ghna. The defenders may hold a Rey and Cabal of the same suit, but they only earn their card points. The player holding the Ghna is the one who declares it.

• A Ghna is declared after a trick won by the declaring team (it doesn't matter which partner won it).
• One Ghna per trick won: if you have two, you'll need to win another trick to declare the second.
• You must still hold both cards when you declare: if you've already played the Rey or the Cabal of that suit, that Ghna is lost.
• Declaring is optional: after a trick won, the player holding the Ghna chooses to declare it or to let the chance go by. If they let it go, they can still declare it after a later trick won, as long as they hold both cards.

This is the least-known rule, and it changes your whole bidding strategy: how many Ghna count depends on the size of the bid.

At 90, a team holding both a Ghna in trumps and Ghna in other suits has to choose: a single +40, or two +20. The first Ghna declared decides: once a +20 has been declared, the +40 no longer fits under the cap (20 + 40 would go over 40). To aim for the +40, declare it first.

The theoretical maximum is a Ghna in trumps plus three in the other suits: 40 + 20 + 20 + 20 = 100 points. With 120 card points and 10 for the last trick, that makes 230, the highest bid. See also Touti bidding.

A hand can end before the 10th trick when it is conceded: if the defenders think the hand is lost, they can give it up, but only if both defenders agree. The declaring team cannot concede. After a concession, the declaring team takes all the remaining cards (including those of the trick in progress) and the last trick (+10).

Any Ghna the declaring team still holds (Rey and Cabal still in hand) and hasn't had time to declare are then credited to it, with the same caps as during play. The hand is then scored as usual.

• Bid high enough: with a Ghna in the suit you want as trumps, aim for at least 90; with two Ghna, 100.
• Choose trumps with it in mind: making your Ghna suit trumps turns 20 into 40.
• Signal COMPTE to your partner if they are bidding: they will know they can raise.
• Win a trick early: until your team has won a trick, you can't declare anything.
• Declare the most exposed Ghna first: the one at risk if the opponents lead its suit.

More tips on Touti strategy, and the full count on how to score Touti.