Troefcall – Rules
Play Troefcall against the computer
1. Overview
| Name | Troefcall ("calling trumps") |
| Type | Trick-taking game with trump calling and partners |
| Players | 4, two teams, partners opposite |
| Recommended age | 8 and up |
| Playing time | one round 3–6 minutes; a game to 20 points 30–60 minutes |
| Material | 52 French cards, pen and paper |
| Goal | As a team, take at least 7 of the 13 tricks – ideally the first seven straight, or all 13. |
| Difficulty | easy |
What is it about? Troefcall is Suriname's most popular card game and is also widely played in the Surinamese community in the Netherlands. One player calls trumps after seeing five cards. Whoever takes the first seven tricks may decide: stop ("kap partij") or risk everything and go for all 13 tricks ("baunie").
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
- First trump caller: Cards are dealt face up in turn until someone gets a jack.
- First cards: Everyone gets 5 cards; the trump caller looks at theirs and calls trumps.
- The rest: Then everyone gets two more packets of 4 cards (13 in total).
- Start: The trump caller leads the first trick.
Start example: Your five cards: ace, jack and 8 of diamonds, king of spades, 3 of hearts. You call diamonds.
4. Goal and winning
- A round: Take at least 7 tricks.
- Game: The first team to 20 points wins (or 15 or 50).
5. Play in detail
A trick.
- The leader plays any card.
- Following suit is compulsory; otherwise you may trump or discard.
- The highest trump wins, otherwise the highest card of the suit led.
Kap partij or baunie.
- If a team takes the first seven tricks, the winner of the seventh may say "kap partij" and stop.
- Or they play on and try to take all 13 tricks (baunie).
- A team that plays on must win all remaining tricks – otherwise the opponents score.
Example with Players 1 to 4. Diamonds are trumps. Players 1 and 4 against Players 2 and 3. Order: Player 1, 2, 4, 3.
- Players 1 and 4 win the first six tricks.
- Player 4 wins the seventh trick with the ace of spades.
- Player 4 says "kap partij" – the round ends.
- Score: 5 points for Players 1 and 4.
6. Scoring
| Result | Points |
|---|---|
| At least 7 tricks (not the first seven straight) | 2 |
| The first 7 tricks and stop (kap partij) | 5 |
| All 13 tricks (baunie) | 15 |
| Baunie failed | 2 for the opponents |
- Recording: Points per team.
7. Special rules and situations
- The trump caller stays: If their team wins, they call again next round; otherwise calling passes to the next player on the left.
- Weak hand: If the trump caller holds no king, queen or jack after the deal, they may ask for a redeal.
- Partner says kap (variant): Then only 2 points are scored.
- Common mistakes: attempting baunie without safe cards; calling trumps with only one good card.
8. Variants
Standard in this description: 52 cards, trumps after 5 cards, game to 20.
| Variant | What changes | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| To 15 or 50 | Shorter or longer game. | depending on time |
| Fixed number of rounds | Instead of a target score. | tournaments |
| Partner kap | The partner may also stop (2 points). | a change |
When playing against the computer on cardgames.zone you play with the player opposite as your partner, clockwise, game to 20, 15 or 50 points.
9. Tips for beginners
- Call a long suit: Choose the suit with the most and highest cards.
- Aces early: They bring safe tricks.
- Secure kap partij: Five points are a lot – baunie only with safe cards.
- Count on your partner: They still receive 13 cards.
- Count trumps: There are 13 in play.
- Disturb opponents: A single trick stops their kap partij.
- Trump deliberately: Especially when an opponent's ace is in the trick.
10. Summary in 10 steps
- 52 cards, two teams, clockwise.
- The first jack decides the first trump caller.
- 5 cards each; the trump caller calls trumps.
- Then 4 + 4 cards each (13).
- The trump caller leads.
- Follow suit, otherwise trump or discard.
- 7 tricks: 2 points.
- First 7 tricks and stop: 5 points.
- All 13 tricks (baunie): 15; failed: 2 for the opponents.
- The first team to 20 points wins.
11. Frequently asked questions
What does Troefcall mean?
"Calling trumps" – from Dutch (troef = trumps).
What is kap partij?
Stopping after the first seven tricks in a row – 5 points.
What is baunie?
All 13 tricks – 15 points.
Who calls trumps?
At first, whoever gets the first jack; after that it stays with the winning team.
Must I trump?
No, a player who can't follow may also discard.
How long does a game take?
To 20 points about 30 to 60 minutes.
Origin & history
Troefcall is at home in Suriname and is also played by Surinamese people in the Netherlands. The name mixes Dutch and English: “troef” means trump. The game resembles the Indian Court Piece – a sign of Suriname's large population of Indian descent.