How to Play Bezique
Description
A two-player trick-taking game with meld scoring and 64 cards. Build declarations as you play, and cash them in for points between tricks.
Objective
Be first to reach 1,000 points, mainly by declaring valuable card combinations and capturing Aces and Tens in tricks.
Setup
Two players, using a 64-card deck (two copies of 7 through Ace in each suit).
Deal eight cards each. Turn up the next card to set trump, then leave the rest as a face-down stock.
Rules
While the stock remains, you can play any card to a trick — no need to follow suit.
After winning a trick, you may lay down one combination from your hand — a marriage (King and Queen of a suit), a run, four of a kind, or the prized Bezique itself (Queen of Spades and Jack of Diamonds) — for bonus points.
Both players then draw a replacement card from the stock, winner first, and the winner leads the next trick.
Once the stock runs out, melding stops and the final eight tricks are played under normal follow-suit rules.
Winning
Aces and Tens captured in tricks are worth 10 points each; winning the very last trick adds another 10.
Add up meld points and trick points across the hand — first player to 1,000 wins the match.