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Playing a Game
 

   The object of the game is to amass more points than your opponent's team; the first team to reach 1,000 points wins the game.
   A game will consist of many Rounds of card play; the Taking team must collect half of the Round's points to avoid Going Down.
   A team accrues points by taking as many Lifts in a Round as possible. (A Round has 8 Lifts)

   See the scenarios below for the playing rules.

   To follow the scenarios below it's critical to understand and memorize the power order and the point values of the cards.
   Most people will allow beginners to have a cheat sheet (click here) to help remember the ranks and values of the cards.
 
 

Rules Governing Card Play 

Scenario 1
  Rule: A player may Lead Off with any suit. The other players must play the same suit if they have the suit in their hand. 

  Strategy: If you determine your team will not take the Lift, play a card worth the fewest points.
 
  Player 1 Leads Off with the Ace of Hearts (not Trumps)
  Player 2 is next, Player 2 has a heart in their hand and plays the Nine of Hearts (worth 0 points)
  Player 3 is next, Player 3 has a heart in their hand and plays the Seven of Hearts
  Player 4 is next, Player 4 has a heart in their hand and plays the Jack of Hearts (worth 2 points)

  Players 2 and 4 would play their least valuable Hearts to avoid putting points into the Lift belonging to Players 1 and 3.
  This Lift belongs to Player 1 because Player 1 had the highest Heart. Player 1 will Lead Off the next Lift.


 

  

Scenario 2
  Rule: When a player Leads Off with Trumps; the other players must Go Over the highest Trump on the table if possible.
 
  Player 1 Leads Off with the Ace of Spades (Trumps)
  Player 2 is next, Player 2 has a Trump in their hand and plays the 9 (Minnel) of Spades (Trumps) (worth 14 points)
  Player 3 is next, Player 3 has a Trump in their hand and plays the Jack of Spades (Trumps)
  Player 4 is next, Player 4 has a Trump in their hand and plays the 7 of Spades (Trumps) (worth 0 points)
   
  Player 2 had to Go Over Player 1's card because Trumps were Called. Player 2 could Go Over because Player 2 had Minnel. 
  Player 3 had Jack and went Over the Minnel.
  Player 4 could not Go Over the Jack and therefore played the 7 of Trumps worth 0 points. 
  This Lift belongs to Player 3 because Player 3 had the highest Trump (Jack). Player 3 will Lead Off the next Lift.


   
  

Scenario 3
  Rule: When a player Leads Off with a suit and the opponent does not have that same suit but the opponent has a Trump, they must
  Trump the Lift. If a Lift has been Trumped by your opponent and you also don't have the suit that was Called, you must also Trump the
  Lift if you have a Trump. If you have a higher Trump then you must Go Over, if you have a lower Trump then you must Hug.
 
  Player 1 Leads Off with the Ten of Diamonds (not Trumps).
  Player 2 does not have a Diamond and Trumps the Lift with the Ace of Clubs (Trumps in this Round).
  Player 3 does not have a Diamond but has a Club (Trumps). Player 3 does not have a Trump higher than the Ace so Player 3 plays the 
  least valuable Trump in their hand, 8 of Clubs (0 points).
  Player 4 does have Diamonds and plays the King of Diamonds.
  
  This Lift belongs to Player 2 because Player 2 Trumped the Lift and no one else could Go Over in Trumps. Player 2 will Lead Off the 
  next Lift.

 
   
   

Scenario 4:
  Rule: Your partner Trumps the Lift because they didn't have the suit that was Called by the player who Lead Off. When it's
  your turn to play if you also don't have the suit that was Called you do not need to Trump because your partner already has
  possession of the Lift.
 
  Player 1 Leads Off with the King of Clubs (not Trumps).
  Player 2 does not have a Club and Trumps the Lift with the 8 of Diamonds (Trumps in this Round).
  Player 3 does not have a Club or Diamond (Trumps); Player 3 plays a low point card from their hand, 7 of Hearts (0 points).
  Player 4 does not have a Club either but since the Lift is Trumped by Player 2, Player 4 does not need to Trump also.
  Player 4 can play any other suit. Player 4 plays a King of Spades.

  This Lift belongs to Player 2 because Player 2 Trumped the Lift and no one else could Go Over (in Trumps).
  Player 2 will Lead Off the next Lift.