Bezique
Overview:
A two-handed Bezique pack is a 64-card pack, consisting of the Ace (high) down to the seven of each suit doubled (i.e. the two to sixes are stripped from two packs and the remaining cards combined). The players cut for the deal, with the highest card having preference. The rank in the cards in cutting, and in play, is A, 10, K, Q, J, 9, 8, and 7. (Note the 10 is higher than the King.) Eight cards are dealt in batches of three, two, and three, to each player with the next card being placed face up between the two players to establish the trump suit. The remaining cards, known as the talon or stock, are placed face down beside it.
The Deal:
Deal three cards to the opponent, three cards to yourself, two cards to the opponent, two cards to yourself, three cards to the opponent once more, and finally, three more cards to yourself. (In other words, it is in a pattern of 3, 2, 3.)
The remaining cards are placed in a stack in the middle of the table. The top card from the stack is turned over and placed face up alongside the stack. This card designates what the trump suit will be. This card is available to be swapped by any player who wins a trick and holds the 7 of trump (which replaces it as the face-up card). The holder of the trump 7 is entitled to exchange it for the upturned trump card at any time when “on lead” – scoring ten points. (In other words, you can’t just exchange your trump 7 for the flip card just because it’s your turn, you have to have won the trick, then do the exchange.)
The non-dealer may lead any card. This card is placed face up on the table. The dealer must respond by playing a card. If it is a card of the same suit but has a higher value, or any card of the trump suit and the leading card is not of the trump suit, it wins the trick. If it is a lower or equal card of the same suit or a card of any other suit, bar the trump suit, it loses.
Whoever wins the trick, takes the cards and places them in a separate pile. These cards play no further part in the round. They are only used for scoring brisques (Aces and Tens). At the game’s conclusion, each player counts the number of brisques (Aces and Tens) they have won in tricks. Each is worth 10 points.
There is no obligation to follow suit or to trump in this part of the game. The normal requirement to follow suit, if possible, does not apply to Bezique – except in the final round. If the second player chooses to play a higher card of the same suit or any trump, that player wins the trick. If the two cards of the same rank are played, the trick belongs to the first player. Once played, tricks are placed face down by the player who wins each trick. Whoever wins the trick then leads first in playing the next trick.
A player has a strong motivation to win the trick when there are Aces or Tens being played or the player has a meld they wish to declare.
The winner of the trick has an opportunity to present a meld by declaring his combination and placing them face upwards on the table. They are still part of his hand but must remain on the table in view of the opponent until played in later tricks. Only one meld can be declared per trick won. Scores for these are written immediately.
Note that a card used in one meld cannot be played in the same meld later on. For example, K♣ married to Q♣ cannot later be married to the second Q♣. However, it can be used for a sequence of four Kings as this is a different meld.
The winner of the trick draws from the talon once they have declared their meld. The loser then also draws a card from the talon, maintaining eight cards in their hand at all times at this stage of the game. If no melds are declared by the winner of the trick, the cards are drawn immediately.
Last Round Rules:
Once the talon is exhausted, the game play changes somewhat in nature. When there is only one face down card left in the stack, along with the face up card, the winner of the final trick gets to choose between the last face down card and the upturned card on the table. The other player takes the one remaining.
Eight more tricks are played to exhaust the players’ hands.
• From now on, the player must follow suit and must play a higher card than the leader if they can. If they cannot follow suit, they must trump to win the trick. If they cannot follow suit or trump it, they can, only then, play any other card.
• Melds cannot be declared in this part of the game.
• The winner of the final trick is granted ten bonus points.
Counting the “Brisques” – Aces and Tens:
After the last trick is played, each player gathers the cards they have won and counts the number of Aces and Tens. Each of these is worth ten points. This number is added to the total score already earned from the various melds the player has declared.
The first player to reach 1500 points wins. (A different target figure may be agreed upon.)
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