Tarneeb rules | Sahrat

These are Sahrat’s default rules. Where tables differ from one majlis to another, the difference is a table option, and every option is free.

Sahrat has three Tarneeb games: Tarneeb (classic), Syrian Tarneeb 41 and Tarneeb 400. All are for four players, and all are free.

1The basics (all versions)

Four players: your partner sits across from you.
One deck, 52 cards, no jokers. Each player gets 13 cards.
Card order: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10 down to 2, trumps included.
Play goes to the right, and the deal moves to the right after each hand. The first dealer is random.
You must follow the suit led if you can. If you cannot, play any card; there is no duty to trump.
A trick goes to the highest trump in it, or if there is none, the highest card of the suit led. The winner leads the next trick.
A hand ends after 13 tricks.

Bidding

Starts at the dealer’s right. Each bid is a number of tricks from 7 to 13; 13 is called «كبّوت».
Each bid must be higher than the last. You may pass, and a pass puts you out of the bidding until it ends.
Bidding ends when everyone else has passed, or at once if someone bids 13.
If all four pass, the hand does not count and is dealt again by the next dealer.
The highest bidder names the trump suit and leads.

Scoring

Made (he takes at least his bid): his team adds the tricks it took (not the bid), and the other team gets nothing.
Failed: his team loses the value of its bid, and the other team adds the tricks it took.
All 13 tricks without bidding 13: 16 points to the team that took them (either team).
Bid 13 and made: 26 points. Bid 13 and failed: −16, and the other team adds its tricks.
Scores can go below zero.

Winning

The first team to reach 41 wins. At the table you can choose the target: 31, 41 or 61.

It differs from classic in these points:

Trump: the last card dealt to the dealer (his 13th) is turned face up, and the trump is the other suit of the same colour: clubs gives spades, diamonds gives hearts, and so on. The card stays in the dealer’s hand.
No winning bidder: each player says how many tricks he alone will take.
One bid each, from the dealer’s right, from 2 to 13, and no passing.
If the four bids total less than 11, the hand is dealt again, and the deal moves to the right.
The player on the dealer’s right leads the first trick.
Everyone scores for himself: if he takes at least his bid, he adds his bid only; if fewer, he loses his bid. A failed bid is not given to the other team.
Winning: a team wins when one of its players reaches 41 and his partner is above 0.
If both teams qualify in the same hand, the higher qualifying player wins. If they are equal, play goes on.

Hearts are always trump: no trump is named and no card is turned.
As in 41: one bid each from 2 to 13, everyone plays for himself, and the player on the dealer’s right leads.
Your lowest allowed bid rises with your own total: 30 to 39 gives 3, 40 to 49 gives 4, 50 and up gives 5.
The lowest total of the four bids is 11, and it rises with the highest total at the table: anyone at 30 to 39 gives 12, 40 to 49 gives 13, 50 and up gives 14. If the total is lower, the hand is dealt again.
Bid values: made, you add the value; failed, you lose it:

Once your own total is 30 or more, one thing changes: a bid of 5 is worth 5 and a bid of 6 is worth 6. The rest stay the same.
Winning: one player reaches 41 and his partner is above 0, with the same tie rule as in 41.
A bid of 10 is worth 40, so one big hand can end the game.