What is a slam?
A slam means winning every trick in the hand. It is one of the most demanding outcomes in Tarot and is scored separately from the ordinary contract.
| Outcome | Bonus / penalty |
|---|---|
| Slam announced and achieved | +400 points |
| Slam achieved without announcing it | +200 points |
| Slam announced but missed | −200 points |
When to announce
The slam announcement comes after the bidding has finished. An announced slam grants the taker the right to lead the opening card, regardless of who dealt. Announcing is a serious commitment: a missed slam costs points.
Assessing the hand
Consider the length and strength of your trumps, whether you control the top trumps, the Kings you can protect, and whether you can stop the defence from making a trick. A hand that is strong enough to make the contract is not necessarily strong enough to take all the tricks.
When entering a score, select the correct slam result separately from whether the ordinary contract succeeded. For tournament play, refer to the official French Tarot rules for the exact conditions.