Trib

Cunning bridge-like bidding, but for Two players.

Object

To secure and make a bidded contract, or to break an opponent's bidded contract.

Starting

From a full deck of fifty-two cards, eleven cards are dealt to each player. The rest are set aside and not used for the rest of the game. Both players then bid for a contract (much the same as in Bridge) until one player 'no-bid's and a contract is settled. Two cards are then passed from each player to the other, before play begins. Eleven tricks are played to determine who wins.

Bidding

Bidding starts with the non-dealer who announces a type of contract and a number of tricks. Types of contract include: Once a bid has been made, the next bid must either be 'higher' than the previous one or a 'no-bid'. For these purposes 'no-trumps' are higher than Spades which are higher than Hearts which are higher than Diamonds which are in turn higher than Clubs. While a 'nullo' bid is considered to be as high as the equivalent normal bid. So: Once a no-bid has been made the contract is set at the level of the last bid made. So a sequence that went as follows: would be a contract in 4 'nullo' no-trumps for the player who made that bid. An exception to this is if the first bidder makes a 'no-bid'. This forces the second bidder to start the bidding, or allows him to declare a 'no-bid'/'no-bid' contract, where there are no trumps and the aim is to win as many tricks as possible.

The Passing

Once a contract has been made, each player selects two cards from his/her hand to pass on to the other (this makes it rather tricky to bid and win more than 9 tricks, as the opponent will undoubtedly pass two rubbish cards).

The Lead

In a normal contract, the first trick is lead by the non-contracting player (who plays a single card from his hand). However in a 'nullo' contract the first trick is lead by the contracting player. From then on the lead is made by the winner of the previous trick.

Trick Taking

Once a trick has been lead, the other player must play from his hand a card of the same suit if he/she is able to. If he/she cannot follow suit he/she may either play a trump (if there is a trump suit) or 'throw away' a card of any other suit. The winner of the trick is the person who played the card with the highest face value (where Aces are considered high). However a trump card will always beat a non-trump card regardless of face values.

Winning the Game

If the contracting player at least fulfills the requirements of his contract (i.e. wins equal to or more than the number of tricks he/she bid (in a normal contract) or loses at least as many tricks as he/she bid (in a 'nullo' contract) then he/she is the winner, otherwise the non-contracting player wins.

Scoring

If the contracting player wins he gets a number of points equal to the amount he bid (i.e. the level of the contract he was in) plus 10 for the contract. If the non-contracting player wins he gets points equal to the number of tricks he made (or lost for 'nullo's').

Credits

Devised by Francis and Andy B.

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