Bish Basics

• Typically played with four people divided into two teams

• Deck consists of 36 cards — two through five of each suit are removed

• Each team draws cards to determine dealer

• Cards dealt clockwise, three cards at a time, until each player receives nine cards

• Players can look at first six cards but final three cards — the kitty — must remain facedown until trump is determined

• Trump suit cards are valued differently: Jack (20 points) is highest, followed by nine (14) ace (11), 10 (10), king (four) and queen (3). Eight, seven and six are worthless in trump and non-trump

• Non-trump cards are scored: ace (11), 10 (10), king (four), queen (3) and jack (2). Nine, eight, seven and six have no value

• Player to dealer’s left chooses, or bids, trump. If they pass, choice goes to next player on left. Dealer forced to declare trump if first three players decline

• Bidding team must win at least half of the points in the hand or they go bait, meaning all points are forfeited to opponents

• First trick begins when player on dealer’s left lays a card

• Each player must follow suit of first card. If they can’t, trump card must be played. (If the player doesn’t have trump card, any card can be played)

• If possible, trump cards must beat other trump cards in each trick. Misplays can be called with all points awarded to other team

• Extra points are awarded to runs of three cards (20) and four cards (50) of the same suit. Runs must be declared at beginning of each trick

• King and queen of trump suit are worth 20 points, but player must call ‘bella’ or ‘bells’; run of four trump cards including king and queen is called ‘50 with the bells’

• Player with the highest card played wins each trick

• Tricks continue until one team reaches 500 points