Tarneeb – Rules

Play Tarneeb against the computer

1. Overview

What is it about? Tarneeb is the card game of cafés and families in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Palestine. Everyone gets 13 cards. Whoever bids the most tricks names the trump suit – the “tarneeb”. Their team must then take at least that many tricks.

2. Cards and material

• Pack: 52 French cards without jokers.
• Ranking (high → low): A, K, Q, J, 10 … 2.
• Trumps: the suit chosen by the highest bidder.
• No card points: Only tricks count.
• Face up and face down: Hands concealed, tricks face down.

3. Preparation and start

1. Deal: Everyone gets 13 cards.
2. Bidding: Starting right of the dealer, each player bids once in turn a number of 7 to 13 tricks or passes. Each bid must be higher.
3. All pass: Redeal.
4. Trumps: The highest bidder names the trump suit.
5. Start: The highest bidder leads.

Start example: You hold seven hearts including ace and king. You bid 8 and win. You name hearts as tarneeb.

4. Goal and winning

• A hand: The bidding team must take at least as many tricks as it bid.
• Game: The first team to reach 31 points wins.

5. Play in detail

A trick.

1. The leader plays any card.
2. The others must follow suit if they can.
3. A player who can't follow may trump or discard anything.
4. The highest trump wins, otherwise the highest card of the suit led.
5. The winner leads.

Example with Players 1 to 4. Player 1 bid 8, hearts are trumps. Players 1 and 4 against Players 2 and 3. Order: Player 1, 3, 4, 2.

1. Player 1 leads the ace of hearts, then the king of hearts. The opponents must follow with hearts and lose their trumps.
2. Later Player 3 leads the ace of spades. Player 4 has no spades and trumps with the 4 of hearts.
3. At the end Players 1 and 4 have 9 tricks. They bid 8 and made it: they score 9 points.
4. Players 2 and 3 took 4 tricks but score nothing, because Players 1 and 4 made their bid.

6. Scoring

• Recording: Two columns, “We” and “They”.
• End: First team to 31 points.

7. Special rules and situations

• Minimum bid 7: A bidder promises at least 7 tricks.
• Revoke: Failing to follow when you could loses the hand for your team.
• Saving trumps: Towards the end trumps are especially valuable.
• Anticlockwise: Dealing and bidding go in this direction too.
• Common mistakes: bidding too high; drawing trumps too late; not supporting your partner.

8. Variants

Standard in this description: bids 7 to 13, game to 31.

When playing against the computer on cardgames.zone you play with the player opposite as your partner to 31, 41 or 51 points; play is anticlockwise.

9. Tips for beginners

1. Long suit as trumps: Six or more cards of a suit are a good foundation.
2. Count on your partner: They usually bring two or three tricks.
3. Count aces: Each side-suit ace is almost a sure trick.
4. Draw trumps: Lead trumps early so the opponents can't trump.
5. Void suits: If you lack a suit, you can trump it.
6. As defenders: Take as many tricks as possible – only a failed bid brings you points.
7. Bid carefully: A missed bid is expensive.

10. Summary in 10 steps

1. 52 cards, two teams, 13 cards each.
2. Anticlockwise.
3. Bid: 7 to 13 tricks.
4. The highest bidder names trumps (tarneeb).
5. The highest bidder leads.
6. Follow suit, else trump or discard.
7. Highest trump or highest card of the suit wins.
8. Made: tricks taken as points for the bidding team.
9. Missed: minus the bid; opponents score their tricks.
10. First team to 31 points wins.

11. Frequently asked questions

What does “tarneeb” mean?

Trump. The highest bidder names the trump suit.

How many tricks must I bid at least?

Seven.

Do the opponents score if we make our bid?

No. Only if you miss do they score their tricks.

Must I trump?

No. A player who can't follow may trump or discard.

Which direction is play?

Anticlockwise.

How long does a game take?

To 31 points about 30 to 60 minutes.

Origin & history

Tarneeb ('trump') is a whist game with bidding that is very popular in the Levant. As with many games of the region, it is played counterclockwise.