Objective
Be the first player/team to reach the target score (usually 11-15 points, sometimes 14 in Tobago tournaments).
Phases
- Card Draw: Each player draws one card. Highest card wins. Winner becomes first player, dealer is to the left of winner.
- Dealer Rotation: First dealer is to the left of card draw winner. After each hand, dealer rotates clockwise.
- Deal & Trump Selection: Dealer deals 6 cards (3-3) and turns up trump card.
- Trick Play: Play proceeds clockwise from first player. Winner of each trick leads next trick.
- Scoring: After all tricks, points are awarded for High, Low, Jack, and Game.
Deal & Trump Selection
- Turn-Up Card: Dealer flips next card from deck.
- Instant Scoring: If Ace, Six, or Jack appears:
- Ace = +1 point to dealer's team
- Six = +2 points to dealer's team
- Jack = +3 points to dealer's team
- Stand/Beg: Player right of dealer says "Stand" (accept trump) or "Beg" (request new trump).
- Dealer Options:
- Take One: Keep trump, give +1 point to opponents
- Refuse: Redeal 3 cards each, expose new trump
- Kicking: Dealer may strategically "kick" (keep trump) without penalty if player stands.
Trick Play
- Must follow suit if possible, or may trump.
- Highest trump or highest card of led suit wins the trick.
- Winner leads the next trick.
- Jack Blocking: If trump Jack is beaten by higher trump → +3 bonus points (Hang Jack).
Scoring
- High: 1 point → Highest trump card played
- Low: 1 point → Lowest trump card dealt
- Jack: 1 point → Capturing trump Jack in a trick
- Game: 1 point → Highest total card value in tricks won
Card Values
- Ace = 4 points
- King = 3 points
- Queen = 2 points
- Jack = 1 point
- Ten = 10 points
- Others = 0 points
Game Calculation: Sum values of cards won in tricks. Higher total wins Game point.
Bonus Points
- Turn-up Ace/Six/Jack: Dealer's team scores immediately (1, 2, or 3 points)
- Hang Jack: +3 points if trump Jack is beaten by higher trump
- Beg Penalty: +1 point to opponents if dealer keeps trump after Beg
Island Variations
- Trinidad: Formal phrasing ("Stand," "Beg," "Take one"). Strict rules, strategic play.
- Tobago: Same rules; minor dialect differences. More aggressive play style.
- Target Score: Usually 11-15 points; sometimes 14 in Tobago tournaments.