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  What it means

  “The third hand strikes.” In card games, the third player (or the third hand dealt) often has the decisive advantage. More broadly: the unexpected third party, or the one who waits, ends up winning.

  Vocabulary

  • trzecia — third (feminine)
  • ręka — hand
  • bić — to beat, to strike

  Grammar note

  'Trzecia ręka' is the nominative feminine subject. 'Bije' is third-person singular present of 'bić'.

  Cultural context

  Rooted in card-playing culture; the 'third hand' in many Polish card games holds a strategic position, making this a well-known saying among players.

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