Be the first player to reach the table's target score (31, 51 or 61) by making your bids or by setting other players' bids.
The deck and the deal
Tarneeb uses a standard 52-card deck with no jokers, ranked from the top: A, K, Q, J, 10 down to 2.
Each player gets 13 cards. The first dealer is chosen at random and the deal then passes to the right after every hand. Dealing, bidding and play all go to the right (counter-clockwise).
Bidding
The player to the dealer's right bids first. A bid is the number of tricks you promise to take on your own, from 7 to 13, and each bid must beat the one before.
Once you pass you are out of the auction for that hand. The auction ends when everyone else has passed after the last bid, or immediately on a bid of 13, which cannot be beaten.
If the first three players all pass without a bid, the last player (the dealer) must bid at least 7; the hand is not redealt.
Trump and play
The highest bidder names trump from the four suits. There is no no-trump option in Tarneeb.
The bidder leads the first trick, and whoever wins a trick leads the next.
You must follow the suit led if you can. If you can't, play any card, trump or not; the app never forces you to trump.
The highest trump wins the trick; if no trump was played, the highest card of the suit led wins.
Scoring
The bidder must take the bid tricks alone. Each hand scores:
- Bid made (under 13): the bidder scores their tricks; the others score nothing.
- All 13 tricks without bidding 13 (kaboot): 16 points.
- Bid failed: the bidder loses the bid amount, and each of the other three scores their own tricks.
- Bid 13 and took all 13: 26 points.
- Bid 13 and missed: −16, and each of the others scores double their tricks.
How the game ends
The table creator picks the target score when creating the table: 31, 51 or 61 points, with 31 as the default.
The first player to reach or pass the target wins. If several reach it on the same hand, the highest total wins; if the leaders are level, another hand is played.
Tips for beginners
- Remember you bid for yourself alone: there is no partner to help you make it.
- Count your sure tricks before bidding: aces, protected kings and a long trump suit.
- A failed bid costs its full value, so don't overbid just to win the auction.
- Keep track of the trumps played so you know when your high side-suit cards are safe.
- When you are not the bidder, work against the bid: if it fails, you score your tricks.
Questions
What is the difference between Tarneeb and Solo Tarneeb?
Bidding, trump and play are the same, but Solo has no partners: the bidder must make the bid alone, every player keeps their own score, and the target is 31, 51 or 61.
How many points do you play to in Solo Tarneeb?
The table creator picks 31 (the default), 51 or 61, and the first player to reach it wins.
What do the other players score when a bid fails?
Each scores their own tricks, or double them against a failed bid of 13, while the bidder loses the bid amount (16 for a failed 13).
What is the lowest bid in Solo Tarneeb?
7 tricks; the highest is 13.
What happens if everyone passes?
If the first three players pass, the last player must bid at least 7.