How we play

Setup

• Four players, two teams. Partners sit across from each other.
• A 24-card deck: 9, 10, J, Q, K, A in each suit. Set the 2s through 8s aside, and keep a 6 and a 4 out for scoring.
• Cut for first deal. Deal passes to the left each hand.
• Deal 5 cards each in batches of 2 and 3. Turn the top card of the remaining four face up. That is the up card.

Card rank

If spades are trump, highest to lowest:

1. J Jack of spades, right bower right bower
2. J Jack of clubs, left bower left bower
3. A Ace of spades
4. K King of spades
5. Q Queen of spades
6. 10 Ten of spades
7. 9 Nine of spades

• The left bower is the jack of the same color as trump. It is trump for every purpose, including following suit. It is no longer a club.
• Every other suit ranks A, K, Q, J, 10, 9.

Calling trump

• Round 1. Starting left of the dealer, each player in turn either orders it up (the up card's suit becomes trump, and the dealer picks up that card and discards one face down) or passes. The dealer may pick it up on their own turn.
• Round 2. If all four pass, the up card is turned face down. Starting left of the dealer again, each player may name any suit except the one that was turned down, or pass.
• Stick the dealer. If the first three players pass in round 2, the dealer must name a suit. No redeals, no throwing in a hand.
• No farmer's hand. You cannot throw in a hand for having no aces or no face cards. Play it.

Going alone

• The player who calls trump may declare "alone" at the moment they call it. Their partner lays their cards face down and sits out the hand.
• Only the caller may go alone. No defending alone.
• If the player who would normally lead is sitting out, the lead passes to the next player clockwise.

Play

• The player left of the dealer leads any card. Play goes clockwise.
• You must follow suit if you can. If you cannot, play anything, including trump.
• Highest trump wins the trick. If no trump was played, the highest card of the suit led wins. The trick winner leads next.
• Reneging (not following suit when you could have) is a 2-point penalty to the other team if caught before the next deal.

Scoring

Keep score with the 6 and the 4 you set aside. Cover pips to show your total.

Table rules

• No table talk. No hints, no "I've got you," no naming suits as a joke, no eyebrows. Call your card and play it.
• Beginners welcome. Say you are new and we will sit you with someone who can talk you through your first few hands. Nobody at this table was born knowing what a bower is.
• Disputes. The rules on this sheet win. Your grandma's rules are great, and we would love to hear about them after the hand.