Rang (Court Piece) – Rules

Play Rang (Court Piece) against the computer

1. Overview

What is it about? Rang, also called Court Piece, is one of the most played card games in Pakistan and northern India – at home, at the office and in the street. One player chooses trumps ("rang") after seeing five cards, then it's all about seven tricks. Whoever takes the first seven tricks in a row scores a kot.

2. Cards and material

• Pack: 52 French cards, ace high, 2 low.
• No card points: Only tricks count.
• Face up and face down: Hands concealed, tricks face down.

3. Preparation and start

1. First cards: Everyone gets 5 cards.
2. Trumps: The player right of the dealer (trump chooser) picks the trump suit from their 5 cards.
3. The rest: Everyone gets two more packets of 4 cards (13 in total).
4. Start: The trump chooser leads.

Start example: Your first five cards: ace, queen and 9 of spades, king of hearts, 4 of clubs. You choose spades.

4. Goal and winning

• A round: The first team to 7 tricks wins.
• Kot: The first 7 tricks in a row.
• Game: The first team to 10 points wins (or 5 in the short version).

5. Play in detail

A trick.

1. The leader plays any card.
2. Following suit is compulsory.
3. A player who can't follow may trump or discard.
4. The highest trump wins, otherwise the highest card of the suit.

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 1 leads the ace of spades. Everyone follows with spades: trick to Player 1.
2. Player 1 leads the king of hearts. Player 2 plays the ace of hearts and wins.
3. Player 2 leads the queen of diamonds. Player 4 has no diamonds and trumps with the 3 of spades.
4. At the end Players 1 and 4 have 8 tricks – round won, but no kot.

6. Scoring

• Traditionally: You count rounds won and kots; seven rounds won in a row also count as a kot.
• Recording: Points and kots per team.

7. Special rules and situations

• 52 kot: All 13 tricks – the greatest triumph.
• Revoke: If not corrected at once, the opponents get a kot.
• Early end: As soon as a team has 7 tricks, play usually stops.
• Common mistakes: choosing trumps with only one strong card; using trumps too early.

8. Variants

Standard in this description: 52 cards, trumps after 5 cards, game to 10.

When playing against the computer on cardgames.zone you play with the player opposite as your partner, anticlockwise, game to 10 or 5 points.

9. Tips for beginners

1. A long suit as trumps: Three cards with ace or king are a good start.
2. Count on your partner: They hold 13 unknown cards.
3. Aces early: They take safe tricks.
4. Count trumps: There are 13 – how many have gone?
5. Trump deliberately: Especially when an opponent leads an ace.
6. Aim for a kot: With a strong hand, push from the start.
7. Disturb opponents: A single trick stops their kot.

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. Then two packets of 4 cards (13).
5. The trump chooser leads.
6. Follow suit, otherwise trump or discard.
7. The highest trump or highest card wins.
8. 7 tricks win the round: 1 point.
9. The first 7 tricks: kot, 2 points.
10. The first team to 10 points wins.

11. Frequently asked questions

What does rang mean?

"Colour" – meaning the trump suit.

What is a kot?

The first seven tricks in a row.

Who chooses trumps?

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

Must I trump?

No, a player who can't follow may also discard.

Why anticlockwise?

That is the custom in Pakistan and India.

How long does a game take?

To 10 points about 30 to 45 minutes.

Origin & history

Rang is a South Asian form of the Iranian Hokm. The English-sounding 'Court Piece' is a corruption of 'kot', the big win.