Tarneeb

Tarneeb (Template:Lang-ar, translit: ṭarnīb, also spelled Tarnibe and Tarnib) is a trick card game played in various middle eastern countries, most notably in the countries of the Fertile Crescent.

The Game

The objective of tarneeb is to win a tournament, which is made up of a continuous set of games.

There are four players in partnerships of two teams. A standard 52 card deck is used, each suit ranking in the usual way from Ace (high) down to two (low). The game is played anticlockwise.

The teams stay together for all the games of a tournament. At the end of a tournament, the loosing team is replaced for the next tournament.

Seating

Tarneeb seating arrangement.

The two members of each team are seated across each other, often on a table in such a way that no player can see the cards of other players (see seating charting image). Either player of a team may collect the winning tricks.

Starting the Game

The first dealer is chosen at random and after each hand the turn to deal passes to the right. The cards are shuffled and cut, and are all dealt out, one at a time or in groups of thirteen (13), so that everyone has 13 cards.

Bidding

The bidding begins with the first player to the right of the dealer and continues anticlockwise.

A bid consists of a number of tricks seven or above. A bid of more tricks outranks any bid of fewer tricks.

At the bidding turn for a given player, the player can either pass or bid higher than the previous bidder by bidding more tricks. The bidding continues until all four players pass in succession.

If all four players pass on their first turn to speak, the hand is thrown in and redealt.

When a bid is followed by four passes, the team of last (and highest) bidder becomes the declarer and must at that time declare their tarneeb (master suit).

The declarer's team must achieve at least the number of tricks bidded.

Playing

The objective of the bidding team is to take at least the number of tricks that they bid. The objective of the other team is to hinder the declarer team from doing reaching their declared bid.

The individual declarer leads to the first trick. Players counterclockwise must follow suit if they can; a player who has no cards of the suit led can play any card. A trick is won by the highest tarneeb in it, if any. If there are no tarneebs in the trick, the highest card of the suit led wins it. The winner of a trick leads to the next.

Scoring

Once all thirteen tricks are played, the scores of the two sides are calculated by adding the tricks each side has won. If the declarer team meets or exceed the number of bidded tricks, then they get the number of tricks they have, otherwise, they loose the bid number and the opposing team gets the number of tricks they complete. The tournament ends when one of the teams reaches thirty-one (31) and the loosing team is replaced for the next tournament.

History of the Game

TBD.

Localized Exceptions to Game Rules

Bidding

In some areas of Lebanon, each person can bid only once, eliminating the option for a player to raise their bid. In addition, the dealer, who bids last, has the option to match, rather than raise the highest bid.

Playing

In some region, the declarer must start the first trick with his declared tarneeb suit.

Scoring

In some region, a tournament ends when a team reaches 61 rather than 31.

Game Strategies

TBD.

Related Games

TBD.