How to Play Baloot
Description
The national game of the Gulf. Bid for hokum or sun, declare what you hold, and take the points that back it up.
Also known as: Baloot Hokum
Objective
Bid your way into the right contract, then take the card points to back it up.
Setup
A 32-card deck, Seven through Ace. Four players in two fixed partnerships. Deal five cards each, then turn one card face up.
The turned card offers the contract: Hokum, where its suit is trump, or Sun, where there is no trump at all.
Rules
Players bid Hokum or Sun on the turned card, or pass. Once the contract is set, the rest of the cards are dealt out.
In Hokum, trump cards are worth: Jack 20, Nine 14, Ace 11, Ten 10, King 4, Queen 3, Eight and Seven 0. Every other suit is worth: Ace 11, Ten 10, King 4, Queen 3, Jack 2, Nine/Eight/Seven 0.
In Sun, there is no special trump ranking — every suit is worth: Ace 11, Ten 10, King 4, Queen 3, Jack 2, Nine/Eight/Seven 0, and the last trick taken is worth an extra 10.
Declare projects before the second trick — sequences and four-of-a-kinds held in hand score extra, but only for the side with the strongest one.
Winning
The bidding side must take more card points than the defenders to make their contract; falling short means the defenders take everything, including the bidding side's own points.
A Hokum deck totals 152 points including the last-trick bonus; a Sun deck totals 260, since every suit carries full value. Play continues to the agreed match target.