Objective

Predict the exact number of tricks you will take each round. If you hit your bid exactly, you score big; if you miss, your score is blacked out.

Setup

• Players: 2 to 8 (best played with 4)
• Game length: The number of rounds depends on the player count. To find the maximum round number, divide 52 by the number of players and round down (e.g. with 4 players, max round is 13; 5 players, max round 10).
• Deck: Start with a standard 52-card deck (no Jokers). Number of cards is determined by multiplying the number of players by the max round (e.g. 4 players x 13 max round = 52 cards; 5 players x 10 max round = 50 cards). Remove lowest-value cards (i.e. 2s) first.

The Scorecard

Create a column for the Round Numbers in ascending order up to the max round, then back down to 1. Four-player example:

Dealing & Trump

• First Dealer: Players cut the deck; highest card deals first. Dealer rotates left each round.
• Dealing: The number of cards dealt to each player is equal to the current Round Number.
• Determining Trump: After dealing, the player to the dealer's left cuts the remaining undealt deck. The dealer flips the top card of the cut deck face-up. The suit of the card is trump for the round.
• "Maximum Round" Exception: When the entire deck is dealt (e.g. Round 13), there is no trump suit.

Bidding

After the round's cards have been dealt and trump is determined (if applicable), starting left of the dealer and moving clockwise, players announce exactly how many tricks they think they will win. Scorekeeper records it.

The Dealer's Trap: The total sum of all bids cannot equal the total tricks available. The dealer (bidding last) must bid to ensure the sum is over or under. At least one player will always fail!

Gameplay

• The Lead: Player to the left of dealer leads first.
• Following Suit: You must follow the leading suit if possible.
• Playing Trump / Discarding: If you cannot follow suit, you may play a trump or discard.
• Winning the Trick: Highest trump wins. If no trump, highest card of leading suit wins (Aces high). Winner leads next.
• Next Trick: The winner of the trick collects the cards, places them face-down in a pile, and leads the first card for the next trick.

Scoring (The "Blackout")

At the end of each round, players compare their tricks won to their bid.

• Successful Bids: If exact, you get a '1' in front of your bid to make your score.
• Bid 0, won 0 = 10
• Bid 3, won 3 = 13
• Bid 11, won 11 = 111
• Failed Bids (The Blackout): If you win more or fewer tricks than you bid, your score is "Blacked out". The scorekeeper draws a solid circle or square over your bid, and you recevie 0 points for that round.

Winning the Game

Play until the final 1-card round is done. Highest total score wins!