Dehla Pakad – Rules

Play Dehla Pakad against the computer

1. Overview

What is it about? Dehla Pakad is the northern Indian relative of Mendikot. Here too, everything revolves around the four tens. The difference: tricks won stay in the middle. Only a player who wins two tricks in a row may collect everything – which creates lots of suspense, because a whole pile of tens can change hands at any time.

2. Cards and material

• Pack: 52 French cards, ace high, 2 low.
• Only the tens matter.
• Face up and face down: Hands concealed, uncollected tricks face up in the middle.

3. Preparation and start

1. First cards: Everyone first gets 5 cards.
2. Trumps: The player right of the dealer chooses the trump suit from their 5 cards (or: first void suit).
3. The rest: The remaining cards are dealt in packets of four – everyone holds 13.
4. Start: The player right of the dealer leads.

Start example: You sit right of the dealer and hold the ace, king and 8 of spades, the 10 of hearts and the 3 of clubs. You choose spades as trumps.

4. Goal and winning

• A round: The team with three or four tens wins.
• Game: To an agreed score or time.

5. Play in detail

A trick.

1. The leader plays any card.
2. Following suit is compulsory.
3. The highest trump wins, otherwise the highest card of the suit.

Double trick.

1. A trick won stays in the middle.
2. A player who wins two tricks in a row takes all cards in the middle for their team.
3. The 13th trick takes all remaining cards.

Example with Players 1 to 4. Spades are trumps. Players 1 and 4 against Players 2 and 3. Order: Player 1, 2, 4, 3.

1. Player 3 wins a trick containing the 10 of hearts – the trick stays in the middle.
2. Player 2 wins the next trick. Since it wasn't the same player, everything stays.
3. Player 1 wins the following trick with the ace of spades.
4. Player 1 wins the next one too – two in a row: he collects all four tricks from the middle, including the 10 of hearts.

6. Scoring

• Traditionally: You count rounds won; a kot counts extra (as do seven rounds won in a row).
• Dealer: If the non-dealers win with 2 or 3 tens, the same dealer deals again.

7. Special rules and situations

• Two tricks by the same player: Only then are the cards collected.
• Last trick: always takes the whole rest.
• 2 : 2 in tens: A draw or decided by house rule.
• Common mistakes: throwing tens into a trick an opponent can collect next; forgetting the double-trick principle.

8. Variants

Standard in this description: 4 players, trumps chosen after 5 cards, double trick.

When playing against the computer on cardgames.zone you play with the player opposite as your partner, anticlockwise; trumps are chosen after 5 cards or are the first void suit, game to 5, 3 or 8 points.

9. Tips for beginners

1. Plan double tricks: Two strong cards of one suit in a row collect everything.
2. Play tens late: The more lies in the middle, the more can be lost.
3. Save trumps: For the decisive second trick.
4. The last trick counts a lot: It takes everything still lying there.
5. Support your partner: If they have won a trick, help them win the next one too.
6. Stop opponents: If an opponent has just won, beat their next trick.
7. Keep count: Where are the tens right now?

10. Summary in 10 steps

1. 52 cards, two teams, anticlockwise.
2. First 5 cards each.
3. The player right of the dealer chooses trumps.
4. The rest in packets of four, 13 cards each.
5. Follow suit.
6. Tricks won stay in the middle.
7. Two tricks in a row: collect everything.
8. The 13th trick takes the rest.
9. Three or four tens win the round.
10. Kot: all four tens.

11. Frequently asked questions

What does Dehla Pakad mean?

"Catch the tens".

When may I collect tricks?

When you win two tricks in a row.

What happens with the last trick?

It takes all cards still in the middle.

What is a kot?

All four tens in one round.

Who chooses trumps?

The player right of the dealer after their first 5 cards.

How long does a game take?

About 20 to 40 minutes.

Origin & history

Dehla Pakad ('catch the ten') is a northern Indian relative of Mendikot. Special is that tricks only belong to a team once a player wins two tricks in a row.