How to Play Hand
Description
A Gulf partnership trick-taker where the bidding is short, the trump call matters more than the cards, and nobody forgives a missed contract.
Objective
Bid the tricks your partnership will take with a named trump, and make good on the promise.
Setup
A standard 52-card deck, four players in two fixed partnerships seated opposite each other. Thirteen cards each.
Rules
Bidding goes around the table, each player raising the number of tricks their side will take. The highest bidder names the trump suit.
Follow suit if you can; if not, you may trump or discard.
The highest trump takes the trick, or the highest card of the suit led if no trump is played. The winner leads the next.
Winning
Make the contract and your partnership scores it; fall short and the bid is deducted instead.
Play continues to an agreed points target.