A Briscola Opening

I realize most people play Briscola ‘coperta’, that is each players hand is hidden from the other but playing Briscola with all the cards face up is not only instructive, it is very interesting.

Player One has: l’asso di coppe, il cavallo di bastoni, e il sei di spade.

Player Two has: il tre di coppe, il cinque di bastoni, e il fante di spade.

The next card to be won is il fante di coppe, a Briscola card.

Player One has the Briscola Ace, the most powerful card in this particular hand. If Player One leads with his Ace, it is unbeatable.

Player Two would not play his 3, as he would lose. It is far more likely Player Two would play his 5.

Player One has picked up 11 points and the Briscola fante (the Briscola Jack) but now Player Two holds the most powerful card in the game, il tre di coppe.

If Player One led with his 6, il sei di spade, Player Two could not follow suit.

Player Two could only win by playing his 3, il tre di coppe, a Briscola card.

If Player Two elects to play his 5, il cinque di bastoni, Player One does not pick up any points but now Player One has two Briscola cards and his Queen, il cavallo di bastoni commands Player Two’s Jack, il fante di bastoni.

If Player Two had the lead and gambled with his 3, it is very likely Player One would take it with his Ace because Player One picks up 21 points on the first hand of the game and the Briscola Jack, il fante di bastoni.

There would be only two cards left in the deck more powerful than the Jack: the King and Queen.

Each player has an equal chance of picking one or both of those cards.
(Well actually Player Two has a very slight edge at this point because he will get the card immediately below the Jack.

If you were Player Two and it was your lead, which card would you play and why?

I look forward to your thoughts.

D