Twenty-Nine – Rules
Play Twenty-Nine against the computer
1. Overview
| Name | Twenty-Nine (29) |
| Type | Bidding and trick-taking game with a hidden trump |
| Players | 4, two teams, partners opposite |
| Recommended age | 10 and up |
| Playing time | one deal 4–6 minutes; a game 30–60 minutes |
| Material | 32 cards (7 to ace), pen and paper |
| Goal | As the bidding team, take at least as many card points as you bid – and be first to 6 game points. |
| Difficulty | medium |
What is it about? Twenty-Nine is very popular in northern India, Bangladesh and Nepal. The name comes from the 28 card points plus one point for the last trick. Jacks and nines are the strongest cards. Particularly exciting: the highest bidder puts the trump card down face down – only when someone can't follow suit may they ask for it to be revealed.
2. Cards and material
- Pack: 32 French cards: 7, 8, 9, 10, jack, queen, king, ace in four suits.
- Ranking and points (high → low):
| Card | Points |
|---|---|
| Jack | 3 |
| 9 | 2 |
| Ace | 1 |
| 10 | 1 |
| King | 0 |
| Queen | 0 |
| 8, 7 | 0 |
- Total: 28 card points, 29 with the last trick.
- Face up and face down: Hands concealed, the trump card face down in front of the bidder, tricks face down.
3. Preparation and start
- First cards: Everyone gets 4 cards.
- Bidding: Starting right of the dealer, players bid, usually from 16 up to at most 28. A player who passes is out.
- Trumps: The highest bidder places a card of their trump suit face down in front of them.
- The rest: Everyone gets 4 more cards (8 in total).
- Start: The player right of the dealer leads.
Start example: You hold the jack and 9 of hearts and two small cards. You bid 18 and win. You place the 7 of hearts face down as the trump card.
4. Goal and winning
- A deal: The bidding team needs at least as many points as its bid.
- Made: +1 game point. Missed: −1 game point.
- Game: The first team to reach +6 wins; a team falling to −6 loses.
5. Play in detail
A trick.
- The leader plays any card.
- Follow suit if possible.
- Asking for trumps: A player who can't follow may ask the bidder to reveal the trump card. They must then play a trump in that trick if they have one.
- While trumps are hidden, no card counts as a trump.
- The highest trump (once revealed) wins, otherwise the highest card of the suit.
Pair. A player holding king and queen of trumps whose team wins a trick after the reveal may declare the pair: the bid drops by 4 (for the bidding team) or rises by 4 (if the opponents hold the pair).
Example with Players 1 to 4. Player 1 bid 18, hearts are the hidden trumps. Players 1 and 4 against Players 2 and 3. Order: Player 3, 1, 2, 4.
- Player 3 leads the jack of spades (3 points). Player 1 has no spades and asks for trumps to be revealed: hearts.
- Now Player 1 must play a trump: 9 of hearts. Player 2 follows with the ace of spades, Player 4 with the 7 of spades.
- Trick to Player 1: jack 3 + 9 2 + ace 1 + 7 0 = 6 points.
- At the end Players 1 and 4 have 20 points: bid of 18 made, +1 game point.
6. Scoring
| Result | Game points |
|---|---|
| Bid made | +1 |
| Bid missed | −1 |
| Pair declared | bid ± 4 |
| All 8 tricks (variant) | instant game win |
- Recording: One number per team, moving between −6 and +6.
7. Special rules and situations
- Hidden trump: The bidder may only play the trump card once it has been revealed – or when it's their last card.
- Redeal (variant): A player with no points at all in the first 4 cards may ask for a redeal.
- Last trick: With the 29 option it scores 1 point.
- Revoke: Failing to follow when you could loses the deal for your team.
- Common mistakes: asking for trumps too early; bidding too high; underestimating the nine.
8. Variants
Standard in this description: minimum bid 16, last trick +1 (29 points), game to ±6.
| Variant | What changes | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| 28 points | The last trick doesn't count. | traditional |
| Minimum bid 15 | Easier to bid. | beginners |
| Seventh card trump | The trump card is the bidder's 7th card. | a change |
When playing against the computer on cardgames.zone you play with the player opposite as your partner, minimum bid 16 or 15, with or without a point for the last trick; play is anticlockwise.
9. Tips for beginners
- Jack and 9: They bring 5 of 28 points – with both in one suit you can bid.
- Count on your partner: They hold four unknown cards.
- Hide your trump: The longer it stays hidden, the less the opponents know.
- Reveal wisely: Ask for trumps when many points lie in the trick.
- Feed points: When your partner is winning, give them jacks and nines.
- Bid carefully: 16 to 18 is realistic with a good hand.
- Use the pair: King and queen of trumps lower the bid by 4.
10. Summary in 10 steps
- 32 cards, two teams, anticlockwise.
- Jack 3, 9 2, ace 1, 10 1; total 28 (+1 last trick).
- 4 cards each, then bid (16 to 28).
- The bidder places the trump card face down.
- 4 more cards each.
- Follow suit.
- Can't follow: ask for trumps, then play a trump.
- Pair (K + Q of trumps): bid ± 4.
- Made +1, missed −1.
- Reach +6 to win; −6 loses.
11. Frequently asked questions
Why is it called Twenty-Nine?
There are 28 card points and 1 point for the last trick – 29 in total.
When are trumps revealed?
When a player can't follow suit and asks for it.
Must I trump after the reveal?
Yes, in the same trick, if you hold a trump.
What is a pair?
King and queen of trumps. It changes the bid by 4.
How do you win the game?
With +6 game points – or when the opponents fall to −6.
How long does a game take?
About 30 to 60 minutes.
Origin & history
Twenty-Nine belongs to the Jass family, in which jack and nine are the highest cards. It probably came to South Asia via European seafarers; related are the games 28, 56 and 304 (Sri Lanka).