Be the first team to reach the table's target score (31, 41 or 61) by making your bids and setting your opponents'.
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).
Partners sit opposite each other.
Bidding
The player to the dealer's right bids first. A bid is the number of tricks your whole team promises to take, 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
Partners' tricks count together. Each hand scores:
Note: on Card Kings the defending team scores nothing when the bid is made, unlike many home games where both teams score their tricks.
- Bid made (under 13): the bidding team scores its tricks; the defenders 0.
- All 13 tricks without bidding 13 (kaboot): 16 points.
- Bid failed: the bidding team loses the bid amount, and the defenders score their tricks.
- Bid 13 and took all 13: 26 points.
- Bid 13 and missed: −16, and the defenders score double their tricks.
How the game ends
The table creator picks the target score when creating the table: 31, 41 or 61 points, with 31 as the default.
The first team to reach or pass the target wins. If both reach it on the same hand, the higher total wins; if they are level, another hand is played.
Tips for beginners
- Your bid includes your partner's tricks, so factor in what they are likely to take.
- 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.
Questions
How many points is a game of Tarneeb?
On Card Kings the table creator picks the target: 31 (the default), 41 or 61. The first team to reach it wins.
What is kaboot in Tarneeb?
Taking all 13 tricks. Without a bid of 13 it scores 16 points; with a bid of 13 it scores 26.
What is the minimum bid in Tarneeb?
The lowest bid is 7 tricks and the highest 13; each bid must beat the previous one.
Do I have to trump if I can't follow suit?
No. You only have to follow the suit led when you can; otherwise you may play any card.
What happens if everyone passes in Tarneeb?
If the first three players pass without a bid, the dealer must bid at least 7.
What does a team lose if it fails its bid?
It loses the bid amount and the defenders score their tricks. A failed bid of 13 costs 16 and the defenders score double their tricks.