The Penguin Book of Card Games: Everything You Need to Know to Play Over 250 Games (33 page)

Object To win, of the nine tricks played, exactly the number you

bid by discarding three cards representing that number. For this

purpose, the suits of the bid-cards represent numbers of tricks bid

as fol ows:

= 3 tricks = 2 tricks = 1 trick = 0 tricks

Examples: Bid nine tricks by laying aside

(3+3+3=9), none by laying

aside

(0+0+0=0). Three may be bid

(3+0+0),

(2+1+0)

or SSS (1+1+1). And so on.

Premium bids Normal y, bid-cards are left face down and remain

unseen until exposed at end of play to claim a win. For a premium,

however, a player may of er to ‘declare’ by turning their bid-cards

face up at start of play, thus declaring their target and revealing

more information about the lie of cards. For a higher premium, a

player may of er to ‘reveal’ by not only turning their bid-cards up at

start of play but also then playing with their hand of cards exposed

on the table before the opening lead. Only one player may declare

or reveal. If more than one wish to declare, priority goes to the

player nearest the dealer’s left, dealer having least priority. An of er

to reveal overcal s an of er to declare, regardless of position – but, if

two or more wish to reveal, the same priority applies.

Play The first deal is played at no trump. Each subsequent deal is

played with a trump suit determined by the number of players who

fulfil ed their previous contract. The trump suit is clubs if al three

succeeded, hearts if two, spades if one, or diamonds if none. Eldest

leads first. Players must fol ow suit if possible, otherwise may play

any card. The trick is taken by the highest card of the suit led, or by

the highest trump if any are played, and the winner of each trick

leads to the next.

Score Whoever claims to have fulfil ed their contract must face their

Score Whoever claims to have fulfil ed their contract must face their

bid-cards to prove it. Each player scores 1 point per trick won,

regardless of their bid. Anyone who succeeded also gets a bonus

score: 10 if al three succeeded, 20 if only two succeeded, 30 if only

one succeeded. If anyone declared or revealed, there is a bonus of