be called the "Punish the picker" rule. Some house rules do not enforce this "Punish" rule. Some house rules require the picker to take at least one trick. If the picker/partner do not take at least one trick and lose, then only the picker loses points. Picker -18, partner 0, opponents +6. Cracking In this variant, when a player picks up the blind, any player who was not given the opportunity to pick up the blind and who is not the picker's partner may knock or crack by knocking the table with their fist. This automatically doubles the point values determining the score when the game ends. In the aces variant, the crack must take place after the ace has been called but before the first card is played. Some variants allow the picker or the picker's partner to re-crack, or crack-back resulting in a quadrupling of the end scores. Some variants allow any player (who is not the picker or the picker's partner and did not crack) to castrate resulting in an octupling of the end scores. In another variation, after a crack the partner may crack-around-the-corner, serving the same effect as a re-crack, but revealing himself as the partner at the same time. Generally in any game where cracking is allowed, each player may only crack once, regardless of team. Blitzing or blitzers This variant allows players to double the point value of the game by revealing that they have the two black or red queens. Typically, a blitz may only occur after a crack or re-crack. Some variants allow for a blitzing with the two black jacks, the two middle jacks or all four jacks. Some variants allow for blitzers after the hand has been played. Players with both black queens need to declare blitzers after playing the second queen during the hand. Because of the possibility of escalation, a limit may be placed to cap the maximum value the points are multiplied from blitzing and cracking. Trump Diamonds vs. clubs Typically, diamonds are considered trump, but some groups use another suit (typically clubs around North Central Wisconsin). This would mean a nine of diamonds would be fail while a nine of clubs is trump instead. Alternatively, in some groups, the strengths of the various queens and jacks differ from standard rules. Spitz A variant popular in some areas of Minnesota and Wisconsin is to change the