{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"categoryState":{"relatedCategories":{"headers":{"timestamp":"2023-02-01T16:01:07+00:00"},"categoryId":33890,"data":{"title":"Card Games","slug":"card-games","image":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33884"},"slug":"games","categoryId":33884},{"name":"Card Games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33890"},"slug":"card-games","categoryId":33890}],"parentCategory":{"categoryId":33884,"title":"Games","slug":"games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33884"}},"childCategories":[{"categoryId":33891,"title":"Bridge","slug":"bridge","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33891"},"image":{"src":"/img/background-image-2.fabfbd5c.png","width":0,"height":0},"hasArticle":true,"hasBook":true,"articleCount":96,"bookCount":1},{"categoryId":33897,"title":"Poker","slug":"poker","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33897"},"image":{"src":"/img/background-image-1.daf74cf0.png","width":0,"height":0},"hasArticle":true,"hasBook":true,"articleCount":34,"bookCount":3},{"categoryId":33899,"title":"General Card Games","slug":"general-card-games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33899"},"image":{"src":"/img/background-image-2.fabfbd5c.png","width":0,"height":0},"hasArticle":true,"hasBook":true,"articleCount":60,"bookCount":3}],"description":"Play your best with the hand you're dealt, at the poker table or the kitchen table.","relatedArticles":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles?category=33890&offset=0&size=5"},"hasArticle":true,"hasBook":true,"articleCount":190,"bookCount":7},"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33890"}},"relatedCategoriesLoadedStatus":"success"},"listState":{"list":{"count":10,"total":191,"items":[{"headers":{"creationTime":"2017-01-31T03:39:14+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-12-14T16:29:02+00:00","timestamp":"2022-12-14T18:01:03+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33884"},"slug":"games","categoryId":33884},{"name":"Card Games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33890"},"slug":"card-games","categoryId":33890},{"name":"General Card Games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33899"},"slug":"general-card-games","categoryId":33899}],"title":"How to Play the Card Game Accordion","strippedTitle":"how to play the card game accordion","slug":"play-card-game-accordion","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"The card game Accordion is also known as Methuselah, Tower of Babel, or Idle Year (presumably because of the amount of time you need to keep playing the game to","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"The card game Accordion is also known as Methuselah, Tower of Babel, or Idle Year (presumably because of the amount of time you need to keep playing the game to win it).\r\n\r\nAccordion is a charmingly straightforward game that can easily seduce you into assuming that it must be easy to solve. Be warned — we've never known anyone who has completed a game of Accordion! This challenge makes success at the game doubly pleasurable.\r\n\r\nAccordion also takes up very little space — a major benefit because you tend to play Solitaire in a cramped space, such as while waiting in a bus station or an airport gate.\r\n\r\nThe objective of Accordion is to finish up with a single pile of 52 cards. Relative success is reducing the number of piles to four or fewer. Your chances of complete victory may be less than 1 in 1,000, but don't let that deter you from giving this game a try! The fact that it is a very fast game to play means that you can abandon unpromising hands and move on to another without wasting much time.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Looking at the layout</h2>\r\nThe layout for Accordion is simple. Follow these steps to begin your long journey:\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li><strong>Shuffle the deck well, and then turn over the top card in your deck and put it to your left to start your layout.</strong></li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Turn over the next card.\r\n</strong>If the card is either the same suit (both clubs, for example) or the same rank (both jacks) as the first card, put the second card on top of the first. If you don't have a match, use the card to start a new pile.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Turn over the third card and compare it to the second card.\r\n</strong>Again, if the suits or ranks of the cards match, put the third card on top of the second card; if not, start a third pile with the third card. You can't match the third card with the first card. However, when matching cards (of suit or rank) are three cards apart, you can combine them as if the cards were adjacent. In other words, you can build the fourth card on the first one.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Continue by going through every card in the deck in this way.\r\n</strong>The game ends after you turn over the last card. To win, you must assemble all the cards into one pile.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<p class=\"article-tips tip\">Shuffling the deck well is important because you work your way through the deck one card at a time, so you don't want to make the game too easy by having all the diamonds coming together, for example. That would spoil your sense of achievement, wouldn't it?</p>\r\nYour initial cards may look like one of the examples shown here after you lay out three cards.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_232915\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"535\"]<a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/cards-accordion.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-232915 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/cards-accordion.jpg\" alt=\"cards-accordion\" width=\"535\" height=\"149\" /></a> At the start of Accordion, your cards may fall in this manner.[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn the first example, you must create three different piles because the cards are unrelated in rank or suit. In the middle example, you can put the 4 of diamonds on top of the queen of diamonds (because they share the same suit), leaving you with only two piles. In the last example, you can put the 7 of diamonds on top of the queen of diamonds, which allows you to combine the two 7s, resulting in a single pile.\r\n\r\nTo see how you can combine cards placed three piles away from each other, look here.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_232923\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"281\"]<a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/cards-game-progress.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-232923 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/cards-game-progress.jpg\" alt=\"cards-game-progress\" width=\"281\" height=\"359\" /></a> You can match cards that are three places away from each other to further your game progress.[/caption]\r\n\r\nAfter you turn up the queen of clubs, you can place it on the queen of diamonds (because they're three apart and match in rank) and then put the king of clubs on the queen of clubs (same suit). The jack of hearts then moves to the first row.\r\n<p class=\"article-tips tip\">Laying the cards out in lines of three helps ensure that you properly identify the cards that are three piles apart.</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >Choosing between moves</h2>\r\nWhen moving the cards, you frequently have to be careful to make the plays in the correct order to set up more plays. You may have a choice of moves, but you may not be sure which move to execute first. Look at a possible scenario shown here.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_232921\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"532\"]<a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/cards-first-move.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-232921 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/cards-first-move.jpg\" alt=\"cards-first-move\" width=\"532\" height=\"400\" /></a> Look ahead to see which move to make first.[/caption]\r\n\r\nAfter you turn up the 4 of hearts, you can place it on the 9 of hearts, which opens up a series of moves that you can play. The best option is to move the 4 of hearts onto the 4 of spades and then move the rest of the cards into their new spaces.\r\n\r\nBecause the king of spades is three cards away from the king of clubs, you can combine the two cards and then move the 4 of hearts onto the jack of hearts. Now the 9 of diamondsis three cards away from the queen of diamonds, so you can combine those two cards.\r\n<p class=\"article-tips warning\">If you move the 4 of hearts before you move the king of clubs, you miss out on two possible moves.</p>\r\n<p class=\"article-tips remember\">Making an available play isn't always mandatory. When you can choose between possible moves, play a couple more cards to help you decide which move is superior. The figure shows you how waiting can help you make up your mind when you have a choice.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_232935\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"201\"]<a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/cards-waiting-game.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-232935 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/cards-waiting-game.jpg\" alt=\"cards-waiting-game\" width=\"201\" height=\"400\" /></a> Playing the waiting game can help you make up your mind.[/caption]\r\n\r\nAt this point, you may not know whether to put the ace of spades on the ace of clubs or on the king of spades because your piles don't indicate whether you should keep aces or kings on top of your piles.\r\n<p class=\"article-tips tip\">If several piles have kings on the top, you may want to avoid hiding the king of spades. Instead of jumping the gun, you turn over another card to see what happens, which turns out to be the jack of spades.</p>\r\nNow you can see daylight: Put the jack of spades on the ace of spades and then on the king of spades, and then you put the jack of spades on the jack of hearts. Now you can combine the 9s. Next, put the 4 of spades on the jack of spades, allowing the ace of clubs to go on the king of clubs and the 9 of diamonds to go on the queen of diamonds. Put the 4 of spades on the 7 of spades to move down to three piles. Wasn't that fun? Getting a series of moves to come together like that makes up for the hundreds of unexciting plays you go through.\r\n\r\nPlay continues until you end up with one pile of cards — good luck!","description":"The card game Accordion is also known as Methuselah, Tower of Babel, or Idle Year (presumably because of the amount of time you need to keep playing the game to win it).\r\n\r\nAccordion is a charmingly straightforward game that can easily seduce you into assuming that it must be easy to solve. Be warned — we've never known anyone who has completed a game of Accordion! This challenge makes success at the game doubly pleasurable.\r\n\r\nAccordion also takes up very little space — a major benefit because you tend to play Solitaire in a cramped space, such as while waiting in a bus station or an airport gate.\r\n\r\nThe objective of Accordion is to finish up with a single pile of 52 cards. Relative success is reducing the number of piles to four or fewer. Your chances of complete victory may be less than 1 in 1,000, but don't let that deter you from giving this game a try! The fact that it is a very fast game to play means that you can abandon unpromising hands and move on to another without wasting much time.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Looking at the layout</h2>\r\nThe layout for Accordion is simple. Follow these steps to begin your long journey:\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li><strong>Shuffle the deck well, and then turn over the top card in your deck and put it to your left to start your layout.</strong></li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Turn over the next card.\r\n</strong>If the card is either the same suit (both clubs, for example) or the same rank (both jacks) as the first card, put the second card on top of the first. If you don't have a match, use the card to start a new pile.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Turn over the third card and compare it to the second card.\r\n</strong>Again, if the suits or ranks of the cards match, put the third card on top of the second card; if not, start a third pile with the third card. You can't match the third card with the first card. However, when matching cards (of suit or rank) are three cards apart, you can combine them as if the cards were adjacent. In other words, you can build the fourth card on the first one.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Continue by going through every card in the deck in this way.\r\n</strong>The game ends after you turn over the last card. To win, you must assemble all the cards into one pile.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<p class=\"article-tips tip\">Shuffling the deck well is important because you work your way through the deck one card at a time, so you don't want to make the game too easy by having all the diamonds coming together, for example. That would spoil your sense of achievement, wouldn't it?</p>\r\nYour initial cards may look like one of the examples shown here after you lay out three cards.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_232915\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"535\"]<a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/cards-accordion.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-232915 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/cards-accordion.jpg\" alt=\"cards-accordion\" width=\"535\" height=\"149\" /></a> At the start of Accordion, your cards may fall in this manner.[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn the first example, you must create three different piles because the cards are unrelated in rank or suit. In the middle example, you can put the 4 of diamonds on top of the queen of diamonds (because they share the same suit), leaving you with only two piles. In the last example, you can put the 7 of diamonds on top of the queen of diamonds, which allows you to combine the two 7s, resulting in a single pile.\r\n\r\nTo see how you can combine cards placed three piles away from each other, look here.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_232923\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"281\"]<a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/cards-game-progress.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-232923 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/cards-game-progress.jpg\" alt=\"cards-game-progress\" width=\"281\" height=\"359\" /></a> You can match cards that are three places away from each other to further your game progress.[/caption]\r\n\r\nAfter you turn up the queen of clubs, you can place it on the queen of diamonds (because they're three apart and match in rank) and then put the king of clubs on the queen of clubs (same suit). The jack of hearts then moves to the first row.\r\n<p class=\"article-tips tip\">Laying the cards out in lines of three helps ensure that you properly identify the cards that are three piles apart.</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >Choosing between moves</h2>\r\nWhen moving the cards, you frequently have to be careful to make the plays in the correct order to set up more plays. You may have a choice of moves, but you may not be sure which move to execute first. Look at a possible scenario shown here.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_232921\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"532\"]<a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/cards-first-move.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-232921 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/cards-first-move.jpg\" alt=\"cards-first-move\" width=\"532\" height=\"400\" /></a> Look ahead to see which move to make first.[/caption]\r\n\r\nAfter you turn up the 4 of hearts, you can place it on the 9 of hearts, which opens up a series of moves that you can play. The best option is to move the 4 of hearts onto the 4 of spades and then move the rest of the cards into their new spaces.\r\n\r\nBecause the king of spades is three cards away from the king of clubs, you can combine the two cards and then move the 4 of hearts onto the jack of hearts. Now the 9 of diamondsis three cards away from the queen of diamonds, so you can combine those two cards.\r\n<p class=\"article-tips warning\">If you move the 4 of hearts before you move the king of clubs, you miss out on two possible moves.</p>\r\n<p class=\"article-tips remember\">Making an available play isn't always mandatory. When you can choose between possible moves, play a couple more cards to help you decide which move is superior. The figure shows you how waiting can help you make up your mind when you have a choice.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_232935\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"201\"]<a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/cards-waiting-game.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-232935 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/cards-waiting-game.jpg\" alt=\"cards-waiting-game\" width=\"201\" height=\"400\" /></a> Playing the waiting game can help you make up your mind.[/caption]\r\n\r\nAt this point, you may not know whether to put the ace of spades on the ace of clubs or on the king of spades because your piles don't indicate whether you should keep aces or kings on top of your piles.\r\n<p class=\"article-tips tip\">If several piles have kings on the top, you may want to avoid hiding the king of spades. Instead of jumping the gun, you turn over another card to see what happens, which turns out to be the jack of spades.</p>\r\nNow you can see daylight: Put the jack of spades on the ace of spades and then on the king of spades, and then you put the jack of spades on the jack of hearts. Now you can combine the 9s. Next, put the 4 of spades on the jack of spades, allowing the ace of clubs to go on the king of clubs and the 9 of diamonds to go on the queen of diamonds. Put the 4 of spades on the 7 of spades to move down to three piles. Wasn't that fun? Getting a series of moves to come together like that makes up for the hundreds of unexciting plays you go through.\r\n\r\nPlay continues until you end up with one pile of cards — good luck!","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":8947,"name":"The Experts at Dummies","slug":"the-experts-at-dummies","description":"The Experts at Dummies are smart, friendly people who make learning easy by taking a not-so-serious approach to serious stuff.","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/8947"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33899,"title":"General Card Games","slug":"general-card-games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33899"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[{"label":"Looking at the layout","target":"#tab1"},{"label":"Choosing between moves","target":"#tab2"}],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":233017,"title":"The Basics of Romanian Whist","slug":"basics-romanian-whist","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/233017"}},{"articleId":233014,"title":"How to Play the Card Game Oh Hell!","slug":"play-card-game-oh-hell","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/233014"}},{"articleId":233011,"title":"Playing Double-Deck Fan Tan","slug":"playing-double-deck-fan-tan","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/233011"}},{"articleId":233008,"title":"How to Expand Your Fan Tan Smarts","slug":"expand-fan-tan-smarts","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/233008"}},{"articleId":233005,"title":"How to Play the Card Game Fan Tan","slug":"play-card-game-fan-tan","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/233005"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":292595,"slug":"card-games-all-in-one-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119275718","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119275717/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119275717/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119275717-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119275717/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119275717/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"title":"Card Games All-in-One For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":"<p>Jason Dodds is an Autodesk Construction Solutions Engineer who has been actively involved in all facets of design and building processes for over 15 years and has been using Navisworks since the software's inception. Scott Johnson is an Autodesk Sr. Technical Account Manager and an early adopter of Navisworks who has over 15 years of experience in design, construction, digital prototyping, and manufacturing. Both authors consult internationally and speak regularly at Autodesk University (AU) and other industry events.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":34784,"name":"","slug":"","description":" <p>This All-in-One collects the expertise of a team of <i>For Dummies </i>authors, including Eric Tyson, Robert Griswold, Ralph Roberts, Joe Kraynak, Ray Brown, Symon He, James Svetec, Nicholas Wallwork, Peter Conti, Peter Harris, Kyle Roberts, and Laurence C. Harmon. </b> ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/34784"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;games&quot;,&quot;card-games&quot;,&quot;general-card-games&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119275718&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-639a0f5fad43f\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;games&quot;,&quot;card-games&quot;,&quot;general-card-games&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119275718&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-639a0f5fadd14\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Articles","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-12-14T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":232979},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T21:42:44+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-11-14T19:32:48+00:00","timestamp":"2022-11-14T21:01:02+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33884"},"slug":"games","categoryId":33884},{"name":"Card Games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33890"},"slug":"card-games","categoryId":33890},{"name":"General Card Games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33899"},"slug":"general-card-games","categoryId":33899}],"title":"Rummy: Understanding the Rules and Starting a Game","strippedTitle":"rummy: understanding the rules and starting a game","slug":"rummy-understanding-the-rules-and-starting-a-game","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Learn to play rummy, including the game's objective, rules, scoring combinations, and different variations (including the use of wildcards)!","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"<figure style=\"margin: 0;\"><figcaption style=\"margin-bottom: 10px;\">Listen to the article:</figcaption><audio src=\"/wp-content/uploads/rummy_-understanding-the-rules-and-starting-a-game..mp3\" controls=\"controls\"><a href=\"/wp-content/uploads/rummy_-understanding-the-rules-and-starting-a-game..mp3\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\"></span>Download audio</a></audio></figure>\r\nRummy is a <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/games/card-games/general-card-games/card-games-for-dummies-cheat-sheet-209267/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">card game</a> in which you try to improve the hand that you’re originally dealt. You can do this whenever it’s your turn to play, either by drawing cards from a pile (or stock) or by picking up the card thrown away by your opponent and then discarding a card from your hand.\r\n\r\nYou can play rummy with two or more players (for six or more players, you need a second deck of cards). You'll also need a paper and pencil for scoring. Learn how to play rummy and other basics including rules, scoring, and how to win!\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >The objective of rummy</h2>\r\nYour aim is to put (or <em>meld</em>) your cards into two types of combinations:\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"> Runs: Consecutive sequences of three or more cards of the same suit</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Sets (or books): Three or four cards of the same rank. If you are using two decks, a set may include two identical cards of the same rank and suit.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nThis figure shows some legitimate rummy combinations.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_237145\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"535\"]<a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/rummy-legal-hands-runs-and-sets.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-237145 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/rummy-legal-hands-runs-and-sets.jpg\" alt=\"rummy legal hands runs and sets\" width=\"535\" height=\"388\" /></a> Legal runs follow the same suit; legal sets consist of the same rank.[/caption]\r\n\r\nThis figure shows an unacceptable combination. This run is illegal because all cards in a run must be of the same suit.\r\n<div class=\"imageBlock\" style=\"width: 270px;\">\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_237146\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"270\"]<a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/illegal-rummy-run.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-237146 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/illegal-rummy-run.jpg\" alt=\"illegal rummy run\" width=\"270\" height=\"251\" /></a> An illegal rummy run[/caption]\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n<p class=\"Remember\">In most rummy games, unlike the majority of other card games, aces can be high or low, but not both. So, runs involving the ace must take the form A-2-3 or A-K-Q but not K-A-2.</p>\r\nThe first person who manages to make their whole hand into combinations one way or another, with one card remaining to discard, wins the game.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >How to play rummy</h2>\r\nFollow the rules and instructions below to understand how to play rummy from start to finish:\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>Each player is dealt a certain number of cards from the deck. When playing rummy with two, three, or four players, each player gets ten cards; when playing with five players, each player gets six cards. With more than five players, you must use two decks of cards and a hand of seven cards. The two-player game can also be played with seven cards each.</li>\r\n \t<li>Designate a scorer and a dealer at the start of the game. Then, the dealer deals out the hands and puts the undealt cards face-down on the center of the table as the stock, placing the top card, turned upward, beside the stock as the first card of the discard pile.</li>\r\n \t<li>The player to the left of the dealer plays first. They can either pick up the card on the discard pile or the top card from the stock. If they can put some or all of their hand into combinations, they may do so. If not, they discard one card from their hand, face-up onto the discard pile, and the turn of play moves to the next player.</li>\r\n \t<li>The next player can either pick up the last card the previous player discarded or the top card from the stock. They can then meld some or all of their cards down in combinations. The play continues clockwise around the table. When the stock runs out, shuffle the discard pile and set it up again.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" >Other rummy rules and tips</h2>\r\nNow that you know the objective of the game and the basic instructions to play, here is a small list of additional rummy rules and common tips to abide by:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>You cannot pick up the top discard and then throw the card back onto the pile.</li>\r\n \t<li>If you pick up two cards from the stock by accident and see either of them, you must put the bottom card back, which gives the next player an additional option. They can look at the returned card and take it if they want it. If they don't want it, they put it back into the middle of the stock and continue with their turn by taking the next card from the stock.</li>\r\n \t<li>When you pick up a card from the stock that you don’t want, don’t throw it away immediately. Put the card into your hand and then extract it. No player, regardless of skill level, needs to give gratuitous information away.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab4\" >Rummying with wild cards</h2>\r\nYou can play rummy with wild cards by adding jokers to the deck, or you can make the 2s or some other number wild.\r\n\r\nYou can substitute the card represented by a wild card when it is your turn to play. So, if a combination including a joker, standing in for the king of clubs is put on the table, the next player can put in the king of clubs and pick up the joker for use elsewhere.\r\n\r\nIf you put down two 8s and a joker, you do not have to announce which 8 the joker represents, but with a run, such as 5-6-joker, the assumption is that the joker represents the 7.\r\n<p class=\"article-tips tip\">When playing with wild cards, you may not want to put combinations containing wild cards down immediately; you don’t want to give another player the use of a wild card by way of the substitution. Of course, if you feel obliged to put down the set or run, try to ensure that the card your wild card replaces has already been played in some other set or run.</p>\r\nOnce you've mastered the game of rummy, you might want to try the slightly more interesting and challenging <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/games/card-games/general-card-games/how-to-play-gin-rummy-193767/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">gin rummy</a>.","description":"<figure style=\"margin: 0;\"><figcaption style=\"margin-bottom: 10px;\">Listen to the article:</figcaption><audio src=\"/wp-content/uploads/rummy_-understanding-the-rules-and-starting-a-game..mp3\" controls=\"controls\"><a href=\"/wp-content/uploads/rummy_-understanding-the-rules-and-starting-a-game..mp3\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\"></span>Download audio</a></audio></figure>\r\nRummy is a <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/games/card-games/general-card-games/card-games-for-dummies-cheat-sheet-209267/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">card game</a> in which you try to improve the hand that you’re originally dealt. You can do this whenever it’s your turn to play, either by drawing cards from a pile (or stock) or by picking up the card thrown away by your opponent and then discarding a card from your hand.\r\n\r\nYou can play rummy with two or more players (for six or more players, you need a second deck of cards). You'll also need a paper and pencil for scoring. Learn how to play rummy and other basics including rules, scoring, and how to win!\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >The objective of rummy</h2>\r\nYour aim is to put (or <em>meld</em>) your cards into two types of combinations:\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"> Runs: Consecutive sequences of three or more cards of the same suit</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Sets (or books): Three or four cards of the same rank. If you are using two decks, a set may include two identical cards of the same rank and suit.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nThis figure shows some legitimate rummy combinations.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_237145\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"535\"]<a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/rummy-legal-hands-runs-and-sets.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-237145 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/rummy-legal-hands-runs-and-sets.jpg\" alt=\"rummy legal hands runs and sets\" width=\"535\" height=\"388\" /></a> Legal runs follow the same suit; legal sets consist of the same rank.[/caption]\r\n\r\nThis figure shows an unacceptable combination. This run is illegal because all cards in a run must be of the same suit.\r\n<div class=\"imageBlock\" style=\"width: 270px;\">\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_237146\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"270\"]<a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/illegal-rummy-run.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-237146 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/illegal-rummy-run.jpg\" alt=\"illegal rummy run\" width=\"270\" height=\"251\" /></a> An illegal rummy run[/caption]\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n<p class=\"Remember\">In most rummy games, unlike the majority of other card games, aces can be high or low, but not both. So, runs involving the ace must take the form A-2-3 or A-K-Q but not K-A-2.</p>\r\nThe first person who manages to make their whole hand into combinations one way or another, with one card remaining to discard, wins the game.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >How to play rummy</h2>\r\nFollow the rules and instructions below to understand how to play rummy from start to finish:\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>Each player is dealt a certain number of cards from the deck. When playing rummy with two, three, or four players, each player gets ten cards; when playing with five players, each player gets six cards. With more than five players, you must use two decks of cards and a hand of seven cards. The two-player game can also be played with seven cards each.</li>\r\n \t<li>Designate a scorer and a dealer at the start of the game. Then, the dealer deals out the hands and puts the undealt cards face-down on the center of the table as the stock, placing the top card, turned upward, beside the stock as the first card of the discard pile.</li>\r\n \t<li>The player to the left of the dealer plays first. They can either pick up the card on the discard pile or the top card from the stock. If they can put some or all of their hand into combinations, they may do so. If not, they discard one card from their hand, face-up onto the discard pile, and the turn of play moves to the next player.</li>\r\n \t<li>The next player can either pick up the last card the previous player discarded or the top card from the stock. They can then meld some or all of their cards down in combinations. The play continues clockwise around the table. When the stock runs out, shuffle the discard pile and set it up again.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" >Other rummy rules and tips</h2>\r\nNow that you know the objective of the game and the basic instructions to play, here is a small list of additional rummy rules and common tips to abide by:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>You cannot pick up the top discard and then throw the card back onto the pile.</li>\r\n \t<li>If you pick up two cards from the stock by accident and see either of them, you must put the bottom card back, which gives the next player an additional option. They can look at the returned card and take it if they want it. If they don't want it, they put it back into the middle of the stock and continue with their turn by taking the next card from the stock.</li>\r\n \t<li>When you pick up a card from the stock that you don’t want, don’t throw it away immediately. Put the card into your hand and then extract it. No player, regardless of skill level, needs to give gratuitous information away.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab4\" >Rummying with wild cards</h2>\r\nYou can play rummy with wild cards by adding jokers to the deck, or you can make the 2s or some other number wild.\r\n\r\nYou can substitute the card represented by a wild card when it is your turn to play. So, if a combination including a joker, standing in for the king of clubs is put on the table, the next player can put in the king of clubs and pick up the joker for use elsewhere.\r\n\r\nIf you put down two 8s and a joker, you do not have to announce which 8 the joker represents, but with a run, such as 5-6-joker, the assumption is that the joker represents the 7.\r\n<p class=\"article-tips tip\">When playing with wild cards, you may not want to put combinations containing wild cards down immediately; you don’t want to give another player the use of a wild card by way of the substitution. Of course, if you feel obliged to put down the set or run, try to ensure that the card your wild card replaces has already been played in some other set or run.</p>\r\nOnce you've mastered the game of rummy, you might want to try the slightly more interesting and challenging <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/games/card-games/general-card-games/how-to-play-gin-rummy-193767/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">gin rummy</a>.","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":10483,"name":"Barry Rigal","slug":"barry-rigal","description":" <p><B>Barry Rigal</b> is an internationally recognized Bridge player who has won countless competitions. They include the North American Bridge Championships as well as the Camrose Trophy Home International Series, which he has won five times. Barry is also the author of the previous editions of <i>Card Games For Dummies</i>. </p> ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10483"}},{"authorId":10484,"name":"Omar Sharif","slug":"omar-sharif","description":"Omar Sharif starred in hit movies Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago. He's less well known as a masterful bridge player. He used to play while on the set of his films and rose in the ranks to become one of the 50 best players in the world.","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10484"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33899,"title":"General Card Games","slug":"general-card-games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33899"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[{"label":"The objective of rummy","target":"#tab1"},{"label":"How to play rummy","target":"#tab2"},{"label":"Other rummy rules and tips","target":"#tab3"},{"label":"Rummying with wild cards","target":"#tab4"}],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":209267,"title":"Card Games For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"card-games-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209267"}},{"articleId":200855,"title":"Playing Eights: Simple Is as Simple Does","slug":"playing-eights-simple-is-as-simple-does","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/200855"}},{"articleId":199747,"title":"Playing Beggar My Neighbor","slug":"playing-beggar-my-neighbor","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/199747"}},{"articleId":199741,"title":"Acquainting Yourself with Euchre","slug":"acquainting-yourself-with-euchre","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/199741"}},{"articleId":198911,"title":"Understanding the Basics of Gin Rummy","slug":"understanding-the-basics-of-gin-rummy","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/198911"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":233017,"title":"The Basics of Romanian Whist","slug":"basics-romanian-whist","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/233017"}},{"articleId":233014,"title":"How to Play the Card Game Oh Hell!","slug":"play-card-game-oh-hell","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/233014"}},{"articleId":233011,"title":"Playing Double-Deck Fan Tan","slug":"playing-double-deck-fan-tan","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/233011"}},{"articleId":233008,"title":"How to Expand Your Fan Tan Smarts","slug":"expand-fan-tan-smarts","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/233008"}},{"articleId":233005,"title":"How to Play the Card Game Fan Tan","slug":"play-card-game-fan-tan","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/233005"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282057,"slug":"card-games-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119880424","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119880424/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119880424/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119880424-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119880424/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119880424/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/9781119880424-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Card Games For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"<p><B><b data-author-id=\"10483\">Barry Rigal</b></b> is an internationally recognized Bridge player who has won countless competitions. They include the North American Bridge Championships as well as the Camrose Trophy Home International Series, which he has won five times. Barry is also the author of the previous editions of <i>Card Games For Dummies</i>. </p>","authors":[{"authorId":10483,"name":"Barry Rigal","slug":"barry-rigal","description":" <p><B>Barry Rigal</b> is an internationally recognized Bridge player who has won countless competitions. They include the North American Bridge Championships as well as the Camrose Trophy Home International Series, which he has won five times. Barry is also the author of the previous editions of <i>Card Games For Dummies</i>. </p> ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10483"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;games&quot;,&quot;card-games&quot;,&quot;general-card-games&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119880424&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-6372ac8eed9a5\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;games&quot;,&quot;card-games&quot;,&quot;general-card-games&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119880424&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-6372ac8eee20e\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Articles","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2021-09-08T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":193770},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T21:42:41+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-10-18T15:35:24+00:00","timestamp":"2022-10-18T18:01:03+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33884"},"slug":"games","categoryId":33884},{"name":"Card Games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33890"},"slug":"card-games","categoryId":33890},{"name":"General Card Games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33899"},"slug":"general-card-games","categoryId":33899}],"title":"How to Play Gin Rummy","strippedTitle":"how to play gin rummy","slug":"how-to-play-gin-rummy","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Gin rummy is similar to regular rummy, but it has some additional rules that can make it more interesting and challenging.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Gin rummy is very similar to regular rummy, but gin has some additional wrinkles that make it a more interesting and challenging game.\r\n\r\nTo play gin rummy, you need the following:\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Two players: If more than two people want to play, you may want to send the extras out for ice cream or a walk.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">A standard deck of 52 cards; no jokers are allowed in the gin house.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Paper and pencil for scoring.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Getting a fair deal</h2>\r\nBoth players get ten cards. The dealer turns the rest of the cards into the stock by placing them in the center of the table and turning over the first card. The <em>upcard</em>, the card turned up to start the game, is offered to the nondealer first. If they don't want the upcard, the dealer may take it, and then play continues.\r\n\r\nGin rummy play resembles <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/games/card-games/general-card-games/rummy-understanding-the-rules-and-starting-a-game-193770/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">regular rummy</a>, except for how you go out, and the fact that you do not put down combinations mid-hand.\r\n\r\nThe first upcard is a free card; be prepared to take it, even if it has no relevance to your hand because the option reverts to your opponent if you don’t take advantage of it. If nothing else, taking the card misleads your opponent about the combinations in your hand. You cannot take up the discard and then immediately put it down — just as at rummy.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >Going gin and tallying your score</h2>\r\nThe most difficult (and therefore rewarding) way to go out and win the game is to put all your cards into melds, which is called going gin. If you go gin, you score 25 points, plus the sum of whatever your opponent fails to make into complete combinations — their unconnected cards, or deadwood.\r\n\r\nYou must pick up a card, either from the stock or the discard pile, before you go gin.\r\n\r\nTo better understand how to score points after you win, take a look at the cards in this figure.\r\n<div class=\"imageBlock\" style=\"width: 535px;\">\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/175211.image0.jpg\" alt=\"The winner collects points from the deadwood in the loser’s hand.\" width=\"535\" height=\"358\" />\r\n<div class=\"imageCaption\">The winner collects points from the deadwood in the loser’s hand.</div>\r\n</div>\r\nThe example opponent has 18 points left: two 4s and two 5s add up to 18 points. Together with the 25 points you get for going gin, you score 43 points.\r\n\r\nYou can play to 100 or 250 points, depending on how long you want the contest to last.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" >Knock, knock! Another way to go out</h2>\r\nThe most intriguing facet of the rules of gin rummy, compared to the standard rummy rules, is that you have more than one way to go out. Instead of forming all your cards into combinations, you have the option to knock (which involves literally tapping the table).\r\n\r\nYou knock when\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">You’ve put almost all your cards into combinations and</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">The cards that don’t make melds total less than or equal to 10 points.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you meet these criteria, you can knock (just once will do — no matter how happy it makes you feel) and then put your cards down on the table.\r\n\r\nAfter you knock, play stops, and the tallying begins. Your score comes from the deadwood — the cards that aren’t part of combinations. If your opponent’s deadwood exceeds yours, you pick up the difference between your total and theirs. If your opponent’s deadwood doesn’t exceed yours, you must face the consequences.\r\n\r\nSometimes your opponent can outdo you when you knock because they have an additional way to get rid of his deadwood. They can put down their melds, and those cards don’t count toward their score. They can also add their loose cards to your combinations. After your opponent adds any loose cards, only their remaining cards count.\r\n\r\nTake a look at the cards in this figure to get an idea of how to score after you knock.\r\n<div class=\"imageBlock\" style=\"width: 535px;\">\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"535\"]<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/175212.image1.jpg\" alt=\"Someone’s knocking at the door; someone’s racking up some points.\" width=\"535\" height=\"351\" /> Someone’s knocking at the door; someone’s racking up some points.[/caption]\r\n\r\n</div>\r\nIf you count up all the cards in this figure, you see that your 5 points against the opponent's 28 leaves you with 23 points.\r\n<p class=\"Remember\">If you knock, you don’t get 25 points for going out.</p>","description":"Gin rummy is very similar to regular rummy, but gin has some additional wrinkles that make it a more interesting and challenging game.\r\n\r\nTo play gin rummy, you need the following:\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Two players: If more than two people want to play, you may want to send the extras out for ice cream or a walk.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">A standard deck of 52 cards; no jokers are allowed in the gin house.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Paper and pencil for scoring.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Getting a fair deal</h2>\r\nBoth players get ten cards. The dealer turns the rest of the cards into the stock by placing them in the center of the table and turning over the first card. The <em>upcard</em>, the card turned up to start the game, is offered to the nondealer first. If they don't want the upcard, the dealer may take it, and then play continues.\r\n\r\nGin rummy play resembles <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/games/card-games/general-card-games/rummy-understanding-the-rules-and-starting-a-game-193770/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">regular rummy</a>, except for how you go out, and the fact that you do not put down combinations mid-hand.\r\n\r\nThe first upcard is a free card; be prepared to take it, even if it has no relevance to your hand because the option reverts to your opponent if you don’t take advantage of it. If nothing else, taking the card misleads your opponent about the combinations in your hand. You cannot take up the discard and then immediately put it down — just as at rummy.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >Going gin and tallying your score</h2>\r\nThe most difficult (and therefore rewarding) way to go out and win the game is to put all your cards into melds, which is called going gin. If you go gin, you score 25 points, plus the sum of whatever your opponent fails to make into complete combinations — their unconnected cards, or deadwood.\r\n\r\nYou must pick up a card, either from the stock or the discard pile, before you go gin.\r\n\r\nTo better understand how to score points after you win, take a look at the cards in this figure.\r\n<div class=\"imageBlock\" style=\"width: 535px;\">\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/175211.image0.jpg\" alt=\"The winner collects points from the deadwood in the loser’s hand.\" width=\"535\" height=\"358\" />\r\n<div class=\"imageCaption\">The winner collects points from the deadwood in the loser’s hand.</div>\r\n</div>\r\nThe example opponent has 18 points left: two 4s and two 5s add up to 18 points. Together with the 25 points you get for going gin, you score 43 points.\r\n\r\nYou can play to 100 or 250 points, depending on how long you want the contest to last.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" >Knock, knock! Another way to go out</h2>\r\nThe most intriguing facet of the rules of gin rummy, compared to the standard rummy rules, is that you have more than one way to go out. Instead of forming all your cards into combinations, you have the option to knock (which involves literally tapping the table).\r\n\r\nYou knock when\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">You’ve put almost all your cards into combinations and</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">The cards that don’t make melds total less than or equal to 10 points.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you meet these criteria, you can knock (just once will do — no matter how happy it makes you feel) and then put your cards down on the table.\r\n\r\nAfter you knock, play stops, and the tallying begins. Your score comes from the deadwood — the cards that aren’t part of combinations. If your opponent’s deadwood exceeds yours, you pick up the difference between your total and theirs. If your opponent’s deadwood doesn’t exceed yours, you must face the consequences.\r\n\r\nSometimes your opponent can outdo you when you knock because they have an additional way to get rid of his deadwood. They can put down their melds, and those cards don’t count toward their score. They can also add their loose cards to your combinations. After your opponent adds any loose cards, only their remaining cards count.\r\n\r\nTake a look at the cards in this figure to get an idea of how to score after you knock.\r\n<div class=\"imageBlock\" style=\"width: 535px;\">\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"535\"]<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/175212.image1.jpg\" alt=\"Someone’s knocking at the door; someone’s racking up some points.\" width=\"535\" height=\"351\" /> Someone’s knocking at the door; someone’s racking up some points.[/caption]\r\n\r\n</div>\r\nIf you count up all the cards in this figure, you see that your 5 points against the opponent's 28 leaves you with 23 points.\r\n<p class=\"Remember\">If you knock, you don’t get 25 points for going out.</p>","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":10483,"name":"Barry Rigal","slug":"barry-rigal","description":" <p><B>Barry Rigal</b> is an internationally recognized Bridge player who has won countless competitions. They include the North American Bridge Championships as well as the Camrose Trophy Home International Series, which he has won five times. Barry is also the author of the previous editions of <i>Card Games For Dummies</i>. </p> ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10483"}},{"authorId":10484,"name":"Omar Sharif","slug":"omar-sharif","description":"Omar Sharif starred in hit movies Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago. He's less well known as a masterful bridge player. He used to play while on the set of his films and rose in the ranks to become one of the 50 best players in the world.","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10484"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33899,"title":"General Card Games","slug":"general-card-games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33899"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[{"label":"Getting a fair deal","target":"#tab1"},{"label":"Going gin and tallying your score","target":"#tab2"},{"label":"Knock, knock! Another way to go out","target":"#tab3"}],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":209267,"title":"Card Games For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"card-games-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209267"}},{"articleId":200855,"title":"Playing Eights: Simple Is as Simple Does","slug":"playing-eights-simple-is-as-simple-does","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/200855"}},{"articleId":199747,"title":"Playing Beggar My Neighbor","slug":"playing-beggar-my-neighbor","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/199747"}},{"articleId":199741,"title":"Acquainting Yourself with Euchre","slug":"acquainting-yourself-with-euchre","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/199741"}},{"articleId":198911,"title":"Understanding the Basics of Gin Rummy","slug":"understanding-the-basics-of-gin-rummy","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/198911"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":233017,"title":"The Basics of Romanian Whist","slug":"basics-romanian-whist","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/233017"}},{"articleId":233014,"title":"How to Play the Card Game Oh Hell!","slug":"play-card-game-oh-hell","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/233014"}},{"articleId":233011,"title":"Playing Double-Deck Fan Tan","slug":"playing-double-deck-fan-tan","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/233011"}},{"articleId":233008,"title":"How to Expand Your Fan Tan Smarts","slug":"expand-fan-tan-smarts","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/233008"}},{"articleId":233005,"title":"How to Play the Card Game Fan Tan","slug":"play-card-game-fan-tan","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/233005"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282057,"slug":"card-games-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119880424","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119880424/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119880424/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119880424-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119880424/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119880424/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/9781119880424-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Card Games For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"<p><B><b data-author-id=\"10483\">Barry Rigal</b></b> is an internationally recognized Bridge player who has won countless competitions. They include the North American Bridge Championships as well as the Camrose Trophy Home International Series, which he has won five times. Barry is also the author of the previous editions of <i>Card Games For Dummies</i>. </p>","authors":[{"authorId":10483,"name":"Barry Rigal","slug":"barry-rigal","description":" <p><B>Barry Rigal</b> is an internationally recognized Bridge player who has won countless competitions. They include the North American Bridge Championships as well as the Camrose Trophy Home International Series, which he has won five times. Barry is also the author of the previous editions of <i>Card Games For Dummies</i>. </p> ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10483"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;games&quot;,&quot;card-games&quot;,&quot;general-card-games&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119880424&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-634ee9df96337\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;games&quot;,&quot;card-games&quot;,&quot;general-card-games&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119880424&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-634ee9df96b6c\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Articles","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-01-25T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":193767},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T20:29:17+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-08-03T16:59:10+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:19:50+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33884"},"slug":"games","categoryId":33884},{"name":"Card Games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33890"},"slug":"card-games","categoryId":33890},{"name":"Bridge","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33891"},"slug":"bridge","categoryId":33891}],"title":"Bidding and Making Your Contract in Bridge","strippedTitle":"bidding and making your contract in bridge","slug":"how-to-make-your-contract-in-bridge","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Bidding is a very important part of the game of Bridge. Among other things, it determines the number tricks a team must win.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Bridge scoring revolves around the final contract (as determined by the bidding) and the number of tricks actually taken by the side buying the contract. If your final contract is 3, your goal is to win at least nine tricks and clubs are trump, the “wild” suit. If you take exactly nine tricks, you make your contract.\r\n\r\nIf you take ten tricks, you have made your contract plus an extra trick, called an <i>overtrick.</i> In bridge, as the side buying the contract, you score points only if you make your contract or if you make your contract with overtrick(s). Overtricks score points for your side but don’t contribute toward completing a game contract of 100 or more points.\r\n\r\nTo calculate the number of tricks you need to take to fulfill your final contract, add six to the number, or level, of the bid. For example, if your final contract is 5♠, you need to take 11 tricks to make your contract (5 + 6 = 11).\r\n\r\nIf you don’t make your contract, the bad guys (the opponents) rack up penalty points and your side gets nada for your efforts. For example, if you take eight tricks in your contract of 3, you would be one trick short of making your contract (and concede one undertrick); your opponents would get to add points to their score.\r\n<p class=\"Remember\">Your goal on every hand is to make your contract; overtricks are icing on the cake, and undertricks, though inevitable, are something you try to avoid.</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Understanding the importance of bidding in bridge</h2>\r\nIn bridge, the pressure is on the partnership that gets (or <em>buys</em>) the final contract — that side has to win the number of tricks it contracts for. If the partnership fails to win that number of tricks, penalty points are scored by the opponents. If the partnership takes at least the number of tricks it has contracted for, it then scores points.\r\n\r\nIn addition to determining how many tricks a partnership needs to fulfill the contract, the bidding also determines the following:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li class=\"BulletItem\"><b>The declarer and the dummy for the hand:</b> For the partnership that buys the final contract, the bidding determines who plays the hand for the partnership (the <i>declarer</i>) and who gets to watch (the <i>dummy</i>).</li>\r\n \t<li class=\"BulletItem\"><b>The number of tricks the partnership needs to make the final contract:</b> Each bid is like a stepping stone to the number of tricks that a partnership thinks it can take. The goal of the partnership that buys the final contract is to take at least the number of tricks contracted for.</li>\r\n \t<li class=\"BulletItem\"><b>The trump suit (if the hand has one):</b> Depending on the cards held by the partnership that winds up playing the hand, there may be a trump suit (or the bidding may end in a notrump contract).</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"article-tips remember\">Proper bidding also allows the partners to exchange information about the strength (the number of high-card points) and distribution of their cards. Through bidding, you and your partner can tell each other which long suits you have and perhaps in which suits you have honor cards (aces, kings, queens, jacks, and 10s).</p>\r\nBased on the information exchanged during the bidding, the partnership has to decide how many tricks it thinks it can take. The partnership with the greater combined high-card strength usually winds up playing the hand. The declarer (the one who plays the hand) tries to take the number of tricks (or more) that his side has contracted for. The opponents, on the other hand, do their darndest to prevent the declarer from winning those tricks.\r\n\r\nPartnerships exchange vital information about the makeup of their hands through a <em>bidding system.</em> Because you can’t tell your partner what you have in plain English, you have to use a legal bridge bidding system. Think of it as a foreign language in which every bid you make carries some message. Although you can’t say to your partner, “Hey, partner, I have seven strong hearts but only one ace and one king,” an accurate bidding system can come close to describing such a hand.\r\n<p class=\"article-tips warning\">The bidding (or auction) consists of only the permitted bids; you don’t get to describe your hand by using facial expressions, kicking your partner under the table, or punching him in the nose. Your partner must also understand the conventional significance of your bids to make sense of what you’re trying to communicate about your hand and to know how to respond properly. If not, it’s the Tower of Babel all over again!</p>\r\nOf course, everyone at the table hears your bid and everyone else’s bid at the table. No secrets are allowed. Your opponents are privy to the same information your bid tells your partner. Similarly, by listening to your opponents’ bidding, you get a feel for the cards that your opponents have (their strength and distribution). You can then use this information to your advantage when the play of the hand begins.\r\n\r\nBridge authorities agree that bidding is the most important aspect of the game. Using a simple system and making clear bids is the key to getting to the proper contract and racking up the points. Bidding incorrectly (giving your partner a bum steer) leads to lousy contracts, which, in turn, lets your opponents rack up the points when you fail to make your contract.\r\n\r\nOf course, you have to know how to take the tricks you contracted for, or else even the most beautiful contracts in the world lead nowhere. Not to worry; the play-of-the-hand techniques can help pull you through.","description":"Bridge scoring revolves around the final contract (as determined by the bidding) and the number of tricks actually taken by the side buying the contract. If your final contract is 3, your goal is to win at least nine tricks and clubs are trump, the “wild” suit. If you take exactly nine tricks, you make your contract.\r\n\r\nIf you take ten tricks, you have made your contract plus an extra trick, called an <i>overtrick.</i> In bridge, as the side buying the contract, you score points only if you make your contract or if you make your contract with overtrick(s). Overtricks score points for your side but don’t contribute toward completing a game contract of 100 or more points.\r\n\r\nTo calculate the number of tricks you need to take to fulfill your final contract, add six to the number, or level, of the bid. For example, if your final contract is 5♠, you need to take 11 tricks to make your contract (5 + 6 = 11).\r\n\r\nIf you don’t make your contract, the bad guys (the opponents) rack up penalty points and your side gets nada for your efforts. For example, if you take eight tricks in your contract of 3, you would be one trick short of making your contract (and concede one undertrick); your opponents would get to add points to their score.\r\n<p class=\"Remember\">Your goal on every hand is to make your contract; overtricks are icing on the cake, and undertricks, though inevitable, are something you try to avoid.</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Understanding the importance of bidding in bridge</h2>\r\nIn bridge, the pressure is on the partnership that gets (or <em>buys</em>) the final contract — that side has to win the number of tricks it contracts for. If the partnership fails to win that number of tricks, penalty points are scored by the opponents. If the partnership takes at least the number of tricks it has contracted for, it then scores points.\r\n\r\nIn addition to determining how many tricks a partnership needs to fulfill the contract, the bidding also determines the following:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li class=\"BulletItem\"><b>The declarer and the dummy for the hand:</b> For the partnership that buys the final contract, the bidding determines who plays the hand for the partnership (the <i>declarer</i>) and who gets to watch (the <i>dummy</i>).</li>\r\n \t<li class=\"BulletItem\"><b>The number of tricks the partnership needs to make the final contract:</b> Each bid is like a stepping stone to the number of tricks that a partnership thinks it can take. The goal of the partnership that buys the final contract is to take at least the number of tricks contracted for.</li>\r\n \t<li class=\"BulletItem\"><b>The trump suit (if the hand has one):</b> Depending on the cards held by the partnership that winds up playing the hand, there may be a trump suit (or the bidding may end in a notrump contract).</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"article-tips remember\">Proper bidding also allows the partners to exchange information about the strength (the number of high-card points) and distribution of their cards. Through bidding, you and your partner can tell each other which long suits you have and perhaps in which suits you have honor cards (aces, kings, queens, jacks, and 10s).</p>\r\nBased on the information exchanged during the bidding, the partnership has to decide how many tricks it thinks it can take. The partnership with the greater combined high-card strength usually winds up playing the hand. The declarer (the one who plays the hand) tries to take the number of tricks (or more) that his side has contracted for. The opponents, on the other hand, do their darndest to prevent the declarer from winning those tricks.\r\n\r\nPartnerships exchange vital information about the makeup of their hands through a <em>bidding system.</em> Because you can’t tell your partner what you have in plain English, you have to use a legal bridge bidding system. Think of it as a foreign language in which every bid you make carries some message. Although you can’t say to your partner, “Hey, partner, I have seven strong hearts but only one ace and one king,” an accurate bidding system can come close to describing such a hand.\r\n<p class=\"article-tips warning\">The bidding (or auction) consists of only the permitted bids; you don’t get to describe your hand by using facial expressions, kicking your partner under the table, or punching him in the nose. Your partner must also understand the conventional significance of your bids to make sense of what you’re trying to communicate about your hand and to know how to respond properly. If not, it’s the Tower of Babel all over again!</p>\r\nOf course, everyone at the table hears your bid and everyone else’s bid at the table. No secrets are allowed. Your opponents are privy to the same information your bid tells your partner. Similarly, by listening to your opponents’ bidding, you get a feel for the cards that your opponents have (their strength and distribution). You can then use this information to your advantage when the play of the hand begins.\r\n\r\nBridge authorities agree that bidding is the most important aspect of the game. Using a simple system and making clear bids is the key to getting to the proper contract and racking up the points. Bidding incorrectly (giving your partner a bum steer) leads to lousy contracts, which, in turn, lets your opponents rack up the points when you fail to make your contract.\r\n\r\nOf course, you have to know how to take the tricks you contracted for, or else even the most beautiful contracts in the world lead nowhere. Not to worry; the play-of-the-hand techniques can help pull you through.","blurb":"","authors":[],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33891,"title":"Bridge","slug":"bridge","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33891"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[{"label":"Understanding the importance of bidding in bridge","target":"#tab1"}],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":232898,"title":"Playing Bridge in Four Acts","slug":"playing-bridge-four-acts","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","bridge"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/232898"}},{"articleId":232895,"title":"How to Start a Bridge Game with the Right Stuff","slug":"start-bridge-game-right-stuff","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","bridge"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/232895"}},{"articleId":224164,"title":"10 Great Bridge Resources","slug":"10-great-bridge-resources","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","bridge"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/224164"}},{"articleId":224161,"title":"10 Ways to Be a Better Bridge Partner","slug":"10-ways-better-bridge-partner","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","bridge"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/224161"}},{"articleId":224158,"title":"The Bridge Tournament World","slug":"bridge-tournament-world","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","bridge"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/224158"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":0,"slug":null,"isbn":null,"categoryList":null,"amazon":null,"image":null,"title":null,"testBankPinActivationLink":null,"bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":null,"authors":null,"_links":null},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;games&quot;,&quot;card-games&quot;,&quot;bridge&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b46deb72\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;games&quot;,&quot;card-games&quot;,&quot;bridge&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b46df5de\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Articles","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2021-07-26T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":187840},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-09-02T19:00:56+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-05-23T18:13:34+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:19:43+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33884"},"slug":"games","categoryId":33884},{"name":"Card Games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33890"},"slug":"card-games","categoryId":33890},{"name":"Bridge","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33891"},"slug":"bridge","categoryId":33891}],"title":"10 Great Bridge Resources","strippedTitle":"10 great bridge resources","slug":"10-great-bridge-resources","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"When you get hooked on the game, you may want to reach out for additional information. Here’s some helpful resources!","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"When you get hooked on the game, you may want to reach out for bridge information. Here’s some help! Keep reading for ten great references and resources that you may find handy.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >The American Contract Bridge League</h2>\r\nJoining the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) is a must-do. The ACBL is an excellent source of information about current events in the bridge community. The league can help you find bridge clubs throughout the country as well as locate local and national tournaments all over America. At times it even offers sanctioned bridge cruises at sea. The <a href=\"http://www.acbl.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ACBL</a> also maintains a fabulous website with a wealth of information for new players.\r\n\r\n<em>Bridge Bulletin</em> is the official publication of the ACBL and is worth many times more than the yearly dues. The magazine includes a special “New Players Section” as well as sections for intermediate and advanced players with monthly articles by various bridge writers, including yours truly.\r\n\r\nMembership is $29 for the first year. After that, membership runs $39 per year or $111 for three years. If you are 26 years old or younger, membership costs only $15 per year. (The ACBL encourages younger players as much as it can.) You can contact the ACBL by phone at 662-253-3100.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >Your local bridge club</h2>\r\nThe local bridge club is a great place to go when you’re starting out with bridge. Clubs offer all kinds of enticements, including beginning and intermediate lessons, but best of all you can get together and play with people who are at approximately your skill level. Nothing can supplant actual play for gaining experience. Suddenly the books you read make more sense because you actually experience what you read about.\r\n\r\nVisit the ACBL website for more information about how to contact bridge clubs in your area.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" >Adult education classes</h2>\r\nSome adult schools offer bridge classes at modest prices and give you an opportunity to meet newer bridge players like yourself. Check your local high school or parks and recreation department for adult education classes in your area. You may get lucky.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab4\" >Your local library and bookstore</h2>\r\nMost libraries have a reasonable selection of bridge books, and borrowing a book is cheaper than buying one, especially if you’re just starting out with the game. Of course, your local bookstore also may have the latest bridge books if you want one of your own.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab5\" >The Daily bridge column in your newspaper</h2>\r\nSome people who don’t even play bridge read the bridge columns because they’re amusing. A good column is informative, instructive, and entertaining. The major bridge columnists usually come through on all three counts. Here are four good bets, in no particular order (they’re all winners):\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>“Bridge” by Frank Stewart</li>\r\n \t<li>“Goren on Bridge” by Tannah Hirsch</li>\r\n \t<li>“The Aces on Bridge” by Bobby Wolff</li>\r\n \t<li>“Bridge” by Steve Becker</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nShop around in other major newspapers if you can’t find the column you want to read in your regular newspaper.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab6\" >Bridge magazines</h2>\r\nSome of the information in the following magazines may go a tad over your head until you have played a little bridge, but all of them offer articles for beginners.\r\n<h3>Bridge Bulletin</h3>\r\nThis fabulous magazine comes from the ACBL.\r\n<h3>The Bridge World</h3>\r\n<em><a href=\"http://www.bridgeworld.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Bridge World</a></em> is the granddaddy of all bridge publications and is the most respected bridge publication in the world. Unfortunately, the magazine is aimed primarily at advanced players. However, don’t despair; <em>The Bridge World</em> offers information for players of all levels, including beginners, at its website.\r\n\r\nYou can contact <em>The Bridge World</em> at the website or email [email protected] for current subscription information.\r\n<h3>Better Bridge by Audrey Grant</h3>\r\nAudrey Grant, a top international instructor, offers a bi-monthly 24-page magazine. Each issue is full of useful information brought to you by the world’s best players and writers. Many up-to-date tips will have you playing better bridge. The price is $29. Check out <a href=\"http://www.baronbarclay.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BaronBarclay.com</a> or phone 800-274-2221 for more information.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab7\" >Bridge software programs</h2>\r\nMany excellent teaching programs are available for the computer.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab8\" >The internet</h2>\r\nYou can surf the Net to find all kinds of bridge information and to play bridge online. By the way, <a href=\"http://www.kantarbridge.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">kantarbridge.com</a>, is loaded with tips, quizzes, books, travel plans, and even a section on bridge humor. Check it out.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab9\" >Bridge supply sites</h2>\r\nWant a bridge book, bridge software, or a bridge-related gift? Here are a couple of proven suggestions for obtaining these items.\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.baronbarclay.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Baron Barclay Bridge Supplies</a></strong>\r\n\r\n3600 Chamberlain Ln., #206\r\n\r\nLouisville, KY 40241\r\n\r\nPhone: 800-274-2221\r\n<p class=\"article-tips tip\">You can ask for a free catalog before you make any command decisions.</p>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Amazon.com</a> also offers many bridge-related items, including books, cards, special bidding boxes, and other useful paraphernalia to enhance your game.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab10\" >Bridge travel</h2>\r\nWould you like to go on a bridge cruise? Would you like to spend a week at a beautiful five-star hotel and be surrounded with bridge activities? Read on.\r\n<h3>Bridge instruction on cruise ships</h3>\r\nCruise ships offer an unequaled opportunity to immerse yourself in bridge activities. Many major cruise ships set sail with a bridge teacher on board. When the ship is at sea, you get a lesson in the morning and the chance to enter a friendly tournament in the afternoon. However, you can simply play bridge in the card room, if you prefer. Check with the cruise line you’re interested in to verify whether it offers a bridge program.\r\n<h3>Bridge tours</h3>\r\nBridge tours offer great opportunities to play bridge to your heart’s content at some really great places. There are several travel agencies that deal specifically with bridge groups, but you can type “contract bridge tours” into your favorite search engine for more options.\r\n\r\n<strong>Liz Nixon’s World of Cruise and Travel</strong>\r\n\r\nPhone: 800-548-2789\r\n\r\nEmail: [email protected]\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.bridgeholidays.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bridge Holidays</a></strong> with Roberta and Arnold Salob\r\n\r\nPhone 800-807-7009\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.alicetravel.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Alice Travel</a></strong>\r\n\r\nPhone: 800-229-2542\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.finessewest.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Finesse West Tours</a></strong>\r\n\r\nPhone: 800-548-8062","description":"When you get hooked on the game, you may want to reach out for bridge information. Here’s some help! Keep reading for ten great references and resources that you may find handy.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >The American Contract Bridge League</h2>\r\nJoining the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) is a must-do. The ACBL is an excellent source of information about current events in the bridge community. The league can help you find bridge clubs throughout the country as well as locate local and national tournaments all over America. At times it even offers sanctioned bridge cruises at sea. The <a href=\"http://www.acbl.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ACBL</a> also maintains a fabulous website with a wealth of information for new players.\r\n\r\n<em>Bridge Bulletin</em> is the official publication of the ACBL and is worth many times more than the yearly dues. The magazine includes a special “New Players Section” as well as sections for intermediate and advanced players with monthly articles by various bridge writers, including yours truly.\r\n\r\nMembership is $29 for the first year. After that, membership runs $39 per year or $111 for three years. If you are 26 years old or younger, membership costs only $15 per year. (The ACBL encourages younger players as much as it can.) You can contact the ACBL by phone at 662-253-3100.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >Your local bridge club</h2>\r\nThe local bridge club is a great place to go when you’re starting out with bridge. Clubs offer all kinds of enticements, including beginning and intermediate lessons, but best of all you can get together and play with people who are at approximately your skill level. Nothing can supplant actual play for gaining experience. Suddenly the books you read make more sense because you actually experience what you read about.\r\n\r\nVisit the ACBL website for more information about how to contact bridge clubs in your area.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" >Adult education classes</h2>\r\nSome adult schools offer bridge classes at modest prices and give you an opportunity to meet newer bridge players like yourself. Check your local high school or parks and recreation department for adult education classes in your area. You may get lucky.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab4\" >Your local library and bookstore</h2>\r\nMost libraries have a reasonable selection of bridge books, and borrowing a book is cheaper than buying one, especially if you’re just starting out with the game. Of course, your local bookstore also may have the latest bridge books if you want one of your own.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab5\" >The Daily bridge column in your newspaper</h2>\r\nSome people who don’t even play bridge read the bridge columns because they’re amusing. A good column is informative, instructive, and entertaining. The major bridge columnists usually come through on all three counts. Here are four good bets, in no particular order (they’re all winners):\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>“Bridge” by Frank Stewart</li>\r\n \t<li>“Goren on Bridge” by Tannah Hirsch</li>\r\n \t<li>“The Aces on Bridge” by Bobby Wolff</li>\r\n \t<li>“Bridge” by Steve Becker</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nShop around in other major newspapers if you can’t find the column you want to read in your regular newspaper.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab6\" >Bridge magazines</h2>\r\nSome of the information in the following magazines may go a tad over your head until you have played a little bridge, but all of them offer articles for beginners.\r\n<h3>Bridge Bulletin</h3>\r\nThis fabulous magazine comes from the ACBL.\r\n<h3>The Bridge World</h3>\r\n<em><a href=\"http://www.bridgeworld.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Bridge World</a></em> is the granddaddy of all bridge publications and is the most respected bridge publication in the world. Unfortunately, the magazine is aimed primarily at advanced players. However, don’t despair; <em>The Bridge World</em> offers information for players of all levels, including beginners, at its website.\r\n\r\nYou can contact <em>The Bridge World</em> at the website or email [email protected] for current subscription information.\r\n<h3>Better Bridge by Audrey Grant</h3>\r\nAudrey Grant, a top international instructor, offers a bi-monthly 24-page magazine. Each issue is full of useful information brought to you by the world’s best players and writers. Many up-to-date tips will have you playing better bridge. The price is $29. Check out <a href=\"http://www.baronbarclay.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BaronBarclay.com</a> or phone 800-274-2221 for more information.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab7\" >Bridge software programs</h2>\r\nMany excellent teaching programs are available for the computer.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab8\" >The internet</h2>\r\nYou can surf the Net to find all kinds of bridge information and to play bridge online. By the way, <a href=\"http://www.kantarbridge.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">kantarbridge.com</a>, is loaded with tips, quizzes, books, travel plans, and even a section on bridge humor. Check it out.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab9\" >Bridge supply sites</h2>\r\nWant a bridge book, bridge software, or a bridge-related gift? Here are a couple of proven suggestions for obtaining these items.\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.baronbarclay.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Baron Barclay Bridge Supplies</a></strong>\r\n\r\n3600 Chamberlain Ln., #206\r\n\r\nLouisville, KY 40241\r\n\r\nPhone: 800-274-2221\r\n<p class=\"article-tips tip\">You can ask for a free catalog before you make any command decisions.</p>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Amazon.com</a> also offers many bridge-related items, including books, cards, special bidding boxes, and other useful paraphernalia to enhance your game.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab10\" >Bridge travel</h2>\r\nWould you like to go on a bridge cruise? Would you like to spend a week at a beautiful five-star hotel and be surrounded with bridge activities? Read on.\r\n<h3>Bridge instruction on cruise ships</h3>\r\nCruise ships offer an unequaled opportunity to immerse yourself in bridge activities. Many major cruise ships set sail with a bridge teacher on board. When the ship is at sea, you get a lesson in the morning and the chance to enter a friendly tournament in the afternoon. However, you can simply play bridge in the card room, if you prefer. Check with the cruise line you’re interested in to verify whether it offers a bridge program.\r\n<h3>Bridge tours</h3>\r\nBridge tours offer great opportunities to play bridge to your heart’s content at some really great places. There are several travel agencies that deal specifically with bridge groups, but you can type “contract bridge tours” into your favorite search engine for more options.\r\n\r\n<strong>Liz Nixon’s World of Cruise and Travel</strong>\r\n\r\nPhone: 800-548-2789\r\n\r\nEmail: [email protected]\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.bridgeholidays.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bridge Holidays</a></strong> with Roberta and Arnold Salob\r\n\r\nPhone 800-807-7009\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.alicetravel.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Alice Travel</a></strong>\r\n\r\nPhone: 800-229-2542\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.finessewest.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Finesse West Tours</a></strong>\r\n\r\nPhone: 800-548-8062","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":10014,"name":"Eddie Kantar","slug":"eddie-kantar","description":" <p><b>Eddie Kantar</b> is a Grand Master in the World Bridge Federation and a two&#45;time world bridge champion. He wrote <i>Complete Defensive Play,</i> a book listed as a top ten all&#45;time bridge favorite, and is the author of the first three editions of <i>Bridge For Dummies.</i> ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10014"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33891,"title":"Bridge","slug":"bridge","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33891"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[{"label":"The American Contract Bridge League","target":"#tab1"},{"label":"Your local bridge club","target":"#tab2"},{"label":"Adult education classes","target":"#tab3"},{"label":"Your local library and bookstore","target":"#tab4"},{"label":"The Daily bridge column in your newspaper","target":"#tab5"},{"label":"Bridge magazines","target":"#tab6"},{"label":"Bridge software programs","target":"#tab7"},{"label":"The internet","target":"#tab8"},{"label":"Bridge supply sites","target":"#tab9"},{"label":"Bridge travel","target":"#tab10"}],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":224161,"title":"10 Ways to Be a Better Bridge Partner","slug":"10-ways-better-bridge-partner","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","bridge"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/224161"}},{"articleId":224158,"title":"The Bridge Tournament World","slug":"bridge-tournament-world","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","bridge"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/224158"}},{"articleId":224154,"title":"Learning Bridge from Software Programs","slug":"learning-bridge-software-programs","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","bridge"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/224154"}},{"articleId":224146,"title":"How to Score a Chicago Wheel in Bridge","slug":"score-chicago-wheel-bridge","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","bridge"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/224146"}},{"articleId":224142,"title":"How to Set Up the Score Sheet and Bridge Wheel","slug":"set-score-sheet-bridge-wheel","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","bridge"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/224142"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":232898,"title":"Playing Bridge in Four Acts","slug":"playing-bridge-four-acts","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","bridge"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/232898"}},{"articleId":232895,"title":"How to Start a Bridge Game with the Right Stuff","slug":"start-bridge-game-right-stuff","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","bridge"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/232895"}},{"articleId":224161,"title":"10 Ways to Be a Better Bridge Partner","slug":"10-ways-better-bridge-partner","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","bridge"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/224161"}},{"articleId":224158,"title":"The Bridge Tournament World","slug":"bridge-tournament-world","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","bridge"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/224158"}},{"articleId":224154,"title":"Learning Bridge from Software Programs","slug":"learning-bridge-software-programs","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","bridge"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/224154"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282022,"slug":"bridge-for-dummies-4th-edition","isbn":"9781119247821","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","bridge"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119247829/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119247829/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119247829-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119247829/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119247829/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/bridge-for-dummies-4th-edition-cover-9781119247821-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Bridge For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":"<p><b data-author-id=\"10014\">Eddie Kantar</b> is a Grand Master in the World Bridge Federation and a two-time world bridge champion. He wrote <i>Complete Defensive Play,</i> a book listed as a top ten all-time bridge favorite, and is the author of the first three editions of <i>Bridge For Dummies.</i> </p>","authors":[{"authorId":10014,"name":"Eddie Kantar","slug":"eddie-kantar","description":" <p><b>Eddie Kantar</b> is a Grand Master in the World Bridge Federation and a two&#45;time world bridge champion. He wrote <i>Complete Defensive Play,</i> a book listed as a top ten all&#45;time bridge favorite, and is the author of the first three editions of <i>Bridge For Dummies.</i> ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10014"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;games&quot;,&quot;card-games&quot;,&quot;bridge&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119247821&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b3f96201\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;games&quot;,&quot;card-games&quot;,&quot;bridge&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119247821&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b3f96bbf\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Articles","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Two years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2021-08-04T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":224164},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-27T16:52:28+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-03-14T14:49:46+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:19:24+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33884"},"slug":"games","categoryId":33884},{"name":"Card Games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33890"},"slug":"card-games","categoryId":33890},{"name":"Bridge","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33891"},"slug":"bridge","categoryId":33891}],"title":"Bridge For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"bridge for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"bridge-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Learn how to tell your trumps from your notrumps with these handy bridge tips covering bidding, scoring, and game play etiquette.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Arguably, bridge is the greatest card game ever. Not only is it a lifelong friend, it also <em>enables</em> you to make lifelong friends because it's a partnership game. From the four phases of playing a bridge hand to some expert advice on bidding, get started with playing bridge and then refine your game to increase your chances of winning.","description":"Arguably, bridge is the greatest card game ever. Not only is it a lifelong friend, it also <em>enables</em> you to make lifelong friends because it's a partnership game. From the four phases of playing a bridge hand to some expert advice on bidding, get started with playing bridge and then refine your game to increase your chances of winning.","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":10014,"name":"Eddie Kantar","slug":"eddie-kantar","description":" <p><b>Eddie Kantar</b> is a Grand Master in the World Bridge Federation and a two&#45;time world bridge champion. He wrote <i>Complete Defensive Play,</i> a book listed as a top ten all&#45;time bridge favorite, and is the author of the first three editions of <i>Bridge For Dummies.</i> ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10014"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33891,"title":"Bridge","slug":"bridge","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33891"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":224164,"title":"10 Great Bridge Resources","slug":"10-great-bridge-resources","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","bridge"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/224164"}},{"articleId":224161,"title":"10 Ways to Be a Better Bridge Partner","slug":"10-ways-better-bridge-partner","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","bridge"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/224161"}},{"articleId":224158,"title":"The Bridge Tournament World","slug":"bridge-tournament-world","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","bridge"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/224158"}},{"articleId":224154,"title":"Learning Bridge from Software Programs","slug":"learning-bridge-software-programs","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","bridge"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/224154"}},{"articleId":224146,"title":"How to Score a Chicago Wheel in Bridge","slug":"score-chicago-wheel-bridge","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","bridge"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/224146"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":232898,"title":"Playing Bridge in Four Acts","slug":"playing-bridge-four-acts","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","bridge"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/232898"}},{"articleId":232895,"title":"How to Start a Bridge Game with the Right Stuff","slug":"start-bridge-game-right-stuff","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","bridge"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/232895"}},{"articleId":224164,"title":"10 Great Bridge Resources","slug":"10-great-bridge-resources","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","bridge"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/224164"}},{"articleId":224161,"title":"10 Ways to Be a Better Bridge Partner","slug":"10-ways-better-bridge-partner","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","bridge"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/224161"}},{"articleId":224158,"title":"The Bridge Tournament World","slug":"bridge-tournament-world","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","bridge"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/224158"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282022,"slug":"bridge-for-dummies-4th-edition","isbn":"9781119247821","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","bridge"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119247829/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119247829/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119247829-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119247829/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119247829/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/bridge-for-dummies-4th-edition-cover-9781119247821-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Bridge For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":"<p><b data-author-id=\"10014\">Eddie Kantar</b> is a Grand Master in the World Bridge Federation and a two-time world bridge champion. He wrote <i>Complete Defensive Play,</i> a book listed as a top ten all-time bridge favorite, and is the author of the first three editions of <i>Bridge For Dummies.</i> </p>","authors":[{"authorId":10014,"name":"Eddie Kantar","slug":"eddie-kantar","description":" <p><b>Eddie Kantar</b> is a Grand Master in the World Bridge Federation and a two&#45;time world bridge champion. He wrote <i>Complete Defensive Play,</i> a book listed as a top ten all&#45;time bridge favorite, and is the author of the first three editions of <i>Bridge For Dummies.</i> ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10014"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;games&quot;,&quot;card-games&quot;,&quot;bridge&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119247821&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b2c94a7f\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;games&quot;,&quot;card-games&quot;,&quot;bridge&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119247821&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b2c954d0\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":178903,"title":"The Four Phases of a Bridge Hand","slug":"the-four-phases-of-a-bridge-hand","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","bridge"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/178903"}},{"articleId":178857,"title":"Bidding Tips for Winning Bridge Games","slug":"bidding-tips-for-winning-bridge-games","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","bridge"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/178857"}},{"articleId":178914,"title":"Bridge Etiquette: Bidding Do's and Don'ts","slug":"bridge-etiquette-bidding-dos-and-donts","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","bridge"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/178914"}},{"articleId":178913,"title":"Points Scored by Making Your Contract in Bridge","slug":"points-scored-by-making-your-contract-in-bridge","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","bridge"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/178913"}}],"content":[{"title":"The four phases of a bridge hand","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Each hand of bridge is divided into four phases, which always occur in the same order: dealing, bidding for tricks, playing the hand, and scoring. Here&#8217;s a summary of each phase:</p>\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Dealing</p>\n<p class=\"first-para\">The game starts with each player seated facing their partner. The cards are shuffled and placed on the table face down. Each player selects a card, and the one who picks the highest card deals the first hand, but not before the player to the dealer’s left cuts the cards. (After each hand, the deal rotates to the left so one person doesn’t get stuck doing all the dealing.)</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">The cards are dealt one at a time, starting with the player to the dealer’s left and moving in a clockwise rotation until each player has 13 cards (yep, you deal the entire deck of cards).</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">Wait until the dealer distributes all the cards before you pick up your hand. That’s bridge etiquette. When each player has 13 cards, pick up and sort your hand, using the following tips:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">You can sort the cards in any number of ways, but consider sorting your cards into the four suits for easy reference.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Alternate your black suits (clubs and spades) with your red suits (diamonds and hearts) so that you don’t confuse a black card for another black card, or a red card for another red card. It’s a bit disconcerting to think you’re playing a heart, only to see a diamond come floating out of your hand.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Hold your cards back, way back, so only you can see them. It’s difficult to be a winning bridge player when your opponents can see your hand.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Bidding for tricks</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">Bidding in bridge can be compared to an auction. The auctioneer tells you what the minimum bid is, and the first bid starts from that point or higher. Each successive bid must be higher than the last, until someone bids so high that everyone else wants out. When you want out of the bidding in bridge, you say “Pass.” After three consecutive players say “Pass,” the bidding is over. However, if you pass and someone else makes a bid, just as at an auction, you can reenter the bidding.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">In bridge, you don’t bid for cars, art treasures, or precious gems; you bid for something really valuable — tricks. The four players each place a card face up on the table, and the highest card in the suit that has been led takes the trick. Because each player has 13 cards, 13 tricks must be fought over and won in each hand.</p>\n<p class=\"Remember\">Think of bidding as an estimation of how many of those 13 tricks your side (or their side) thinks it can take. The bidding starts with the dealer and moves to their left in a clockwise rotation. Each player gets a chance to bid. The least you can bid is for seven tricks, and the maximum you can bid is for all 13. A player can either bid or pass at their turn.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">The last bid (the one followed by three passes) is called the <i>final contract</i><i>,</i> which is simply the number of tricks that the bidding team must take to score points.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Playing the hand</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">After the bidding for tricks, the play begins. Either your team or the other team makes the final bid. Say that you make the final bid — for nine tricks. Therefore, your goal is to win at least nine tricks in the hand.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">If you take nine (or more) tricks, your team scores points. If you take fewer than nine tricks, you’re penalized, and your opponents score points.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">After the bidding determines who the <i>declarer</i> is (the one who plays the hand), that person’s partner becomes the <i>dummy </i>(no offense intended). The person to the declarer’s left <i>leads,</i> or puts down, the first card (called the <i>opening lead</i>) face up in the middle of the table. The opening lead can be any card of their choosing.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">When the opening lead lands on the table, the game really begins to roll. The next person to play is the dummy — but instead of playing a card, the dummy puts their hand face up on the table in four neat vertical rows, one row for each suit, and then bows out of the action entirely. After they put down their cards, they say and do nothing, leaving the other three people to play the rest of the hand. Ever heard of the Sphinx?</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">The 13 cards that the dummy puts down are also called <i>the dummy.</i> Yes, the dummy puts down the dummy. Because the dummy (the player) is no longer involved in the action, each time it’s the dummy’s turn to play, the declarer must physically take a card from the dummy (meaning the dummy player’s hand) and put it in the middle of the table. In addition, they must play a card from their own hand when it’s their turn.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">The fact that the declarer gets stuck with playing all the team’s cards while the dummy is off munching on snacks may seem a bit unfair. But they do have an advantage over the defenders: they get to see their partner’s cards before they play, which allows them to plan a strategy of how to win those nine tricks (or however many tricks they need to make the final contract).</p>\n<h3>Following suit</h3>\n<p class=\"child-para\">The opening lead determines which suit the other three players must play. Each of the players must <i>follow suit,</i> meaning that they must play a card in the suit that’s led if they have one. For example, pretend that the opening lead is a heart. Down comes the dummy, and you (and everyone else at the table) can see the dummy’s hearts, as well as your own hearts. Because you must play the same suit that’s led if you have one, you have to play a heart, any heart that you want, from the dummy. You place the heart of your choice face up on the table and wait for your right-hand opponent to play a heart. After they play a heart, you play a heart from your hand. <i>Voilà: </i>Four hearts now sit on the table. A trick! Whoever has played the highest heart takes the trick.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">What if a player doesn’t have a card in the suit that has been led? Then, and only then, can a player choose a card, any card, from another suit and play it, which is called a <i>discard.</i> When you discard, you’re literally throwing away your card, knowing that it’s worthless because it’s not in the proper suit. A discard can never win a trick.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">In general, you discard worthless cards that can’t take tricks, saving good-looking cards that may take tricks later. Sometimes, however, the bidding designates a <i>trump suit</i> (think wild cards). In that case, when a suit is led and you don’t have it, you can discard from another suit or take the trick with a trump card.</p>\n<p class=\"Warning\">If you can follow suit, you must. If you have a card in the suit that’s been led but you play a card in another suit by mistake, you <i>revoke.</i> Not good; if you’re detected, penalties may be involved. Don’t worry, though — everybody revokes once in a while.</p>\n<h3>Playing defense</h3>\n<p>Approximately 25 percent of the time, you’ll be the declarer; 25 percent of the time, you’ll be the dummy; and the remaining 50 percent of the time, you’ll be on defense! You need to have a good idea of which card to lead in the first trick and how to continue after you see the dummy. You want to be able to take all the tricks your side has coming. Remember, defenders can’t see each other’s hands so they have to use signals (yes, legal ones) to tell partner what they have. They do this by making informative leads and discards that announce to partner (and the declarer) what they have in the suit they are playing.</p>\n<h3>Winning and stacking tricks</h3>\n<p class=\"child-para\">The player who plays the highest card in the suit that has been led wins the trick. That player sweeps up the four cards and puts them in a neat stack, face down, a little off to the side. The declarer “keeps house” for their team by stacking tricks into piles so anyone can see how many tricks that team has won. The defender who wins the first trick does the same for their side.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">The player who takes the first trick <i>leads first,</i> or plays the first card, to the second trick. That person can lead any card in any suit desired, and the other three players must follow suit if they can.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">The play continues until all 13 tricks have been played. After you play to the last trick, each team counts up the number of tricks it has won.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Scoring</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">After the smoke clears and the tricks are counted, you soon know whether the declarer’s team made its contract. You then register the score.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">Play continues until one team bids and makes two game contracts, which is called winning a <i>rubber.</i> When the rubber is over, everyone can go home or start playing another rubber. If you play tennis, think of winning a rubber as winning a set, not necessarily the match.</p>\n</li>\n</ol>\n"},{"title":"Bidding tips for winning bridge games","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>In bridge, bidding is considered the most important aspect of the game. It&#8217;s a given that a good bidder equals a winning bridge player. Here are a few bidding tips to start you off:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Before opening, add your high card points (HCP): Ace = 4, King = 3, Queen = 2, Jack = 1. If you have 12 or more HCP, open the bidding.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">To open 1♥ or 1♠, you need at least five cards in the suit.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">With two five-card suits, open in the higher-ranking suit first.</p>\n<p class=\"Remember\">The rank of the suits, from highest to lowest, is spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">With two four-card suits, one a major (hearts or spades), one a minor (diamonds or clubs), open in the minor. With two four-card minors, open with the higher minor (1♦).</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Open 1 notrump (NT) or &#8220;no specific suit&#8221; with 15 to 17 HCP plus a balanced hand (no suits with zero or one card, or two suits of only two cards each, also called voids, singletons, or two doubletons).</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">If your partner opens, pass if you have fewer than 6 HCP. With 6 or more HCP, bid your longest suit at the one level, if possible. Responding at the two level in a new suit requires 11 or more HCP. A response of 1NT shows 6 to 10 HCP and denies a four-card major if your partner opens 1♣ or 1♦.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Supporting your partner&#8217;s first bid major suit requires three or more cards in the suit; supporting <i>any</i> second bid suit requires four or more cards in the suit.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">A primary objective in bidding is to locate an eight-card or longer major suit fit between your hand and your partner&#8217;s.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Bridge etiquette: Bidding do's and don'ts","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>In bridge, bidding is an exchange of information. During bidding, you&#8217;re trying to telegraph details about your cards to your partner. Your first impulse may be to develop some special bidding conventions that only you and your partner know. According to the rules of the game, however, you can&#8217;t have any bidding secrets with your partner; the same goes for your opponents. So even though the opponents may be bidding their heads off, you at least will know what their bids mean.</p>\n<p>Here are some tips to help you keep your bidding on the straight and narrow:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Do try to use the minimum number of words possible when you bid.</b> If you want to pass, say just one word: &#8220;Pass.&#8221; If you want to bid 3♣, say &#8220;Three clubs.&#8221; No more, no less.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Do be careful about how you use your voice.</b> You may be tempted to bid softly if you have a weak hand or loudly if you have a strong one. Remember to keep all your bids at the same decibel level.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Don&#8217;t use body language. </b>If your partner makes a bid you don&#8217;t like, don&#8217;t throw any looks across the table and don&#8217;t use any negative body language. If your partner makes a bid that you do like, you also must refrain from any telltale signs of glee.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Don&#8217;t give in to emotional reactions or breakdowns,</b> no matter what happens during the bidding. Bridge is too great a game to mess it up with illegal signals, so keep an even keel.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Points scored by making your contract in bridge","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>This handy table for bridge players shows how many points you score if you make your contract. Your bridge score depends upon which suit you end up in (including notrump) and how many tricks you take. For example, if spades are trumps and you bid for 8 tricks and you take exactly 8 tricks, read across the spade line to see that you scored 60 points. If you don&#8217;t make your contract, you don&#8217;t have to worry about this table because you don&#8217;t score any points, the opponents do!</p>\n<p><b><i>Note:</i></b> Game = 100 points. There are bonuses for bidding and for making 100 points or more on one hand.</p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th>Tricks Taken</th>\n<th>7</th>\n<th>8</th>\n<th>9</th>\n<th>10</th>\n<th>11</th>\n<th>12</th>\n<th>13</th>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Notrump</td>\n<td>40</td>\n<td>70</td>\n<td>100</td>\n<td>130</td>\n<td>160</td>\n<td>190</td>\n<td>220</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Spades</td>\n<td>30</td>\n<td>60</td>\n<td>90</td>\n<td>120</td>\n<td>150</td>\n<td>180</td>\n<td>210</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Hearts</td>\n<td>30</td>\n<td>60</td>\n<td>90</td>\n<td>120</td>\n<td>150</td>\n<td>180</td>\n<td>210</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Diamonds</td>\n<td>20</td>\n<td>40</td>\n<td>60</td>\n<td>80</td>\n<td>100</td>\n<td>120</td>\n<td>140</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Clubs</td>\n<td>20</td>\n<td>40</td>\n<td>60</td>\n<td>80</td>\n<td>100</td>\n<td>120</td>\n<td>140</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-02-24T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":208369},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-27T16:57:26+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-02-14T22:44:59+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:19:07+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33884"},"slug":"games","categoryId":33884},{"name":"Card Games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33890"},"slug":"card-games","categoryId":33890},{"name":"General Card Games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33899"},"slug":"general-card-games","categoryId":33899}],"title":"Card Games For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"card games for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"card-games-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Want to get into play more card games? This handy Cheat Sheet will help you choose games, learn more about poker, and ensure a fun time.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"The variety of card games means that you can find one to suit most any situation. Most card players are familiar with some type of poker, though they may need to be reminded of how the hands are ranked. You can play some card games as long as all the players are happy to continue; others end at a particular score, and all are made more enjoyable when players adhere to card-game etiquette.","description":"The variety of card games means that you can find one to suit most any situation. Most card players are familiar with some type of poker, though they may need to be reminded of how the hands are ranked. You can play some card games as long as all the players are happy to continue; others end at a particular score, and all are made more enjoyable when players adhere to card-game etiquette.","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":10483,"name":"Barry Rigal","slug":"barry-rigal","description":" <p><B>Barry Rigal</b> is an internationally recognized Bridge player who has won countless competitions. They include the North American Bridge Championships as well as the Camrose Trophy Home International Series, which he has won five times. Barry is also the author of the previous editions of <i>Card Games For Dummies</i>. </p> ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10483"}},{"authorId":10484,"name":"Omar Sharif","slug":"omar-sharif","description":"Omar Sharif starred in hit movies Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago. He's less well known as a masterful bridge player. He used to play while on the set of his films and rose in the ranks to become one of the 50 best players in the world.","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10484"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33899,"title":"General Card Games","slug":"general-card-games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33899"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":200855,"title":"Playing Eights: Simple Is as Simple Does","slug":"playing-eights-simple-is-as-simple-does","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/200855"}},{"articleId":199747,"title":"Playing Beggar My Neighbor","slug":"playing-beggar-my-neighbor","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/199747"}},{"articleId":199741,"title":"Acquainting Yourself with Euchre","slug":"acquainting-yourself-with-euchre","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/199741"}},{"articleId":198911,"title":"Understanding the Basics of Gin Rummy","slug":"understanding-the-basics-of-gin-rummy","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/198911"}},{"articleId":194176,"title":"How Card Games End","slug":"how-card-games-end","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194176"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":233017,"title":"The Basics of Romanian Whist","slug":"basics-romanian-whist","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/233017"}},{"articleId":233014,"title":"How to Play the Card Game Oh Hell!","slug":"play-card-game-oh-hell","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/233014"}},{"articleId":233011,"title":"Playing Double-Deck Fan Tan","slug":"playing-double-deck-fan-tan","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/233011"}},{"articleId":233008,"title":"How to Expand Your Fan Tan Smarts","slug":"expand-fan-tan-smarts","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/233008"}},{"articleId":233005,"title":"How to Play the Card Game Fan Tan","slug":"play-card-game-fan-tan","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/233005"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282057,"slug":"card-games-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119880424","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119880424/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119880424/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119880424-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119880424/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119880424/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/9781119880424-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Card Games For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"<p><B><b data-author-id=\"10483\">Barry Rigal</b></b> is an internationally recognized Bridge player who has won countless competitions. They include the North American Bridge Championships as well as the Camrose Trophy Home International Series, which he has won five times. Barry is also the author of the previous editions of <i>Card Games For Dummies</i>. </p>","authors":[{"authorId":10483,"name":"Barry Rigal","slug":"barry-rigal","description":" <p><B>Barry Rigal</b> is an internationally recognized Bridge player who has won countless competitions. They include the North American Bridge Championships as well as the Camrose Trophy Home International Series, which he has won five times. Barry is also the author of the previous editions of <i>Card Games For Dummies</i>. </p> ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10483"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;games&quot;,&quot;card-games&quot;,&quot;general-card-games&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119880424&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b1b170f0\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;games&quot;,&quot;card-games&quot;,&quot;general-card-games&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119880424&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b1b1798d\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":194173,"title":"How to Choose the Best Card Games","slug":"how-to-choose-the-best-card-games","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194173"}},{"articleId":194176,"title":"How Card Games End","slug":"how-card-games-end","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194176"}},{"articleId":194175,"title":"How to Rank Poker Hands","slug":"how-to-rank-poker-hands","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194175"}},{"articleId":194174,"title":"Card Game Do’s and Don’ts","slug":"card-game-dos-and-donts","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194174"}}],"content":[{"title":"How to choose a card game","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p class=\"SortTitle\">You can choose the best card games to play by considering the situation, numbers of players, and player experience.</p>\n<h3>Best cards games based on a specific number of players</h3>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>For one player:</b> accordion and poker patience if you’re short on space; la belle Lucie if you can spread out</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>For two players:</b> gin rummy, spite and malice, and cribbage</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>For three players:</b> pinochle and ninety-nine</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>For four players:</b> bridge, euchre, and spades</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>For five to eight players:</b> hearts, poker, and oh, hell!</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>For eight or more:</b> eights and president</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<h3>Best cards games based on type of play</h3>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Best games for serious, competitive types:</b> whist and bridge</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Best games if you’re playing in a cramped space:</b> hearts and eights</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Best games for large groups: p</b>oker and blackjack</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Best games that combine bidding and play:</b> pinochle and spades</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Best partnership games:</b> bridge, whist, and euchre</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<h3>Best cards games based on experience</h3>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>For beginners:</b> oh hell! and ninety-nine</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>For children:</b> go fish, concentration, and cheat</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>For groups with mixed experience levels:</b> knock-out whist, fan tan, and rummy</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>For experienced card-players who want new thrills:</b> pinochle and cribbage</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"How card games end","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p class=\"SortTitle\">Beginning a card game is generally pretty straightforward — you deal the cards to the players. However, ending a card game can be a little different. Some games continue until a player reaches a certain score, others require a specific number of deals.</p>\n<p class=\"SortTitle\">The following list of popular card games tells you that you keep playing until:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Blackjack: </b>The players run out of money (don’t worry about the casino) or decide they’ve had enough.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Bridge:</b> One side wins a rubber of two games, then the side with the higher score wins. If playing Chicago Bridge, you change partners after four deals. If playing Duplicate Bridge, you play a session of between 20 and 26 deals — whatever the Tournament Director decrees.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Canasta:</b> A player or team scores 1,500 points.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Cribbage:</b> A player scores 121 points.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Eights: </b>A player scores 250 points (or whatever number is agreed on by the players).</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Euchre:</b> One side scores 10 points.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Fan tan:</b> One player cleans out all the rest, or when everybody has had enough.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Gin rummy:</b> A player scores 250 points in one game or a series of games.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Hand and foot:</b> You finish four deals. Whoever has the most points wins.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Hearts:</b> A player amasses 100 penalty points, at which point the player with the fewest penalty points wins.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Oh hell!:</b> You complete cycle of hands (starting with 7 cards to each player, and then reducing to 1, and going up again to 7 cards). The player with the highest score wins.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Pinochle:</b> A player or partnership scores 1,000 points.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Poker:</b> The players lose their money or lose interest.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>President:</b> Everybody gets bored of humiliating one another.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Rummy:</b> A player scores 100 points – or whatever total is agreed by the contestants.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Setback:</b> A player scores 11 (or 21) points.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Spades:</b> One side scores 500 points.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Whist:</b> One side wins a rubber of two games by getting to 7 points first on two occasions. At a Whist drive, a session typically ends after 24 deals.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"How to rank poker hands","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p class=\"SortTitle\">Poker may be the best-known card game, and if you’re going to play, you need to know how the hands rank. The following details the various poker hands from the highest-ranking to lowest, along with the odds of catching such a hand:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Royal straight flush:</b> The top five cards (A-K-Q-J-10) in one of the four suits. Odds: 650,000 to 1.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Straight flush:</b> Any sequence of five cards from the same suit (such as the 2-3-4-5-6 of clubs). If two players have straight flushes on the same hand, the higher sequence outranks the lower one. Odds: 75,000 to 1.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Four of a kind: </b>Four of any one card; the fifth card in the hand can be anything. If two players have four of a kind at the same time, the rank of the four cards determines the better hand. If two players have equal ranked quads, the rank of the fifth card determines who wins. Odds: 4,150 to 1.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Full house:</b> Three of a kind matched with a pair — for example, three 10s and two 9s. If two players both have a full house, the higher three of a kind determines the better hand. Odds: 700 to 1.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Flush:</b> Five cards of the same suit, no sequence required. When two players have flushes, the highest card in each flush determines the better hand; if the top cards are the same, you look at the second card, and so on. Odds: 500 to 1.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Straight:</b> Five cards of consecutive rank (in numerical sequence) in any suit. If two players have straights, the top card of the straight determines the winner. Odds: 250 to 1.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Three of a kind:</b> Also knows as <i>triplets, trips, </i>or a <i>set,</i> this hand consists of three cards of the same numeric value, together with two unmatched cards. The higher-ranking three of a kind wins. Odds: 47 to 1.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Two pair:</b> Four cards in two pairs with an unmatched fifth card. Ties are broken by the value of the top pair, followed by the value of the second pair, and finally by the spare card. Odds: 20 to 1.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>One pair:</b> One pair with three unmatched cards is the second-lowest hand. The rank of the pair, followed by the unmatched cards, splits the tie. Odds: 2 to 5.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>High card:</b> The weakest hand, <i>high card</i> means you have five unmatched cards. The top card in the hand determines the better collection. If two hands tie, such as two hands with ace-high, you move to the second card, and so on. Odds: 1 to 1.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Card game dos and don'ts","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p class=\"SortTitle\">Card games are meant to be fun and entertaining and paying attention to the dos and don’ts of card-playing can help you keep your enjoyment factor high and your frustration level low.</p>\n<p>Card-playing dos include:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Determine the rules of the game before play begins. Most games have several variations, and you need to iron out the rules before you start.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Shuffle the cards before each hand. Cut the cards, or arrange for someone else to do so, before dealing them.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Make sure that no one can see your cards, both during the deal and during play.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Avoid conversation that gives away information, or if the sole purpose of your remarks is to upset, irritate, or mislead your partner or opponents. (At Poker, though, you can get away with almost anything!)</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Try to remember all the cards that you held at the start of play and recall the salient details of the cards played by the other players.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Listen to your partner’s bids and watch his plays. He wants to help you, so don’t ignore him.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Play each card in the same tempo. The speed of your play can emphasize how you feel about your cards.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Study your opponents’ actions at the table. If the game involves bluffing, try to read body language during bluffs. If you can, try to watch a group of players before joining them; you can read their behavior better when you’re not tied to one position at the table and you don’t have to worry about a hand.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Only try to bluff only one or two players at a time. If you’re bluffing against three or more players, the odds are that one of them can beat whatever bluff you’re pretending to hold.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<p>Card-playing don’ts include:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Make any undue efforts to look at anyone else’s hand, both during the deal and during play.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Pick up your cards until the deal is finished.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Indicate whether you’re pleased or unhappy about the cards you’re dealt. In an individual game, you give your opponents unnecessary information about your hand. In a partnership game, you give your partner illegal information about your holdings.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Accidentally expose any cards while dealing, either by turning a card over or by distributing them in such a way that players can see them.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Accidentally drop a card on the table (as opposed to playing it). If you do so in an individual game, your opponent benefits from the sight of part of your hand, which is punishment enough for the error. In a partnership game, exposing a card gives your partner unauthorized information, which may lead to penalties.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Play or lead out of turn. Pay attention to the game so you don’t get caught in this embarrassing position.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Criticize your partner. It never accomplishes anything positive. Don’t dwell on what has passed; the cards have no memory.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-02-14T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":209267},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-27T16:57:51+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-02-04T15:41:15+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:19:05+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33884"},"slug":"games","categoryId":33884},{"name":"Card Games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33890"},"slug":"card-games","categoryId":33890},{"name":"Poker","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33897"},"slug":"poker","categoryId":33897}],"title":"Texas Hold’em For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"texas hold’em for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"texas-holdem-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Texas hold’em poker is everywhere these days — on TV, online, and in clubs and casinos. Before you sit down to a game of Texas hold 'em, make sure you’re in goo","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Texas hold’em poker is everywhere these days — on TV, online, and in clubs and casinos. Before you sit down to a game of Texas hold 'em, make sure you’re in good shape to be successful — take care of non-poker issues and check your physical, mental, and financial status.\r\n\r\nDuring the game, you need to understand basic odds and playable hands, as well as how to bluff successfully and follow proper poker etiquette. Texas hold 'em also has its own abbreviations for online play.","description":"Texas hold’em poker is everywhere these days — on TV, online, and in clubs and casinos. Before you sit down to a game of Texas hold 'em, make sure you’re in good shape to be successful — take care of non-poker issues and check your physical, mental, and financial status.\r\n\r\nDuring the game, you need to understand basic odds and playable hands, as well as how to bluff successfully and follow proper poker etiquette. Texas hold 'em also has its own abbreviations for online play.","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9669,"name":"Mark Harlan","slug":"mark-harlan","description":" <p><b>Mark &#8220;The Red&#8221; Harlan </b>is an avid poker player and co-creator of the first company to offer legal online poker in the United States. Along with his hours at the poker table, Mark has also spent time as a software developer for leading Silicon Valley companies.</p> ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9669"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33897,"title":"Poker","slug":"poker","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33897"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":201158,"title":"Improving Your Home Game of Hold'em","slug":"improving-your-home-game-of-holdem","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/201158"}},{"articleId":199694,"title":"Playing Texas Hold'em Move by Move","slug":"playing-texas-holdem-move-by-move","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/199694"}},{"articleId":199689,"title":"Posting Blinds in Texas Hold'em","slug":"posting-blinds-in-texas-holdem","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/199689"}},{"articleId":199641,"title":"Avoiding Common Mistakes at Texas Hold'em","slug":"avoiding-common-mistakes-at-texas-holdem","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/199641"}},{"articleId":194751,"title":"Playable Texas Hold’em Hands","slug":"playable-texas-holdem-hands","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194751"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":232973,"title":"How Casino Poker Differs from Home Games","slug":"casino-poker-differs-home-games","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/232973"}},{"articleId":232970,"title":"The Basics of Casino Poker","slug":"basics-casino-poker","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/232970"}},{"articleId":232967,"title":"Know Your Poker Opponents","slug":"know-poker-opponents","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/232967"}},{"articleId":232964,"title":"Poker Betting Rules of the Road","slug":"poker-betting-rules-road","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/232964"}},{"articleId":232961,"title":"The Lowdown on Poker Betting","slug":"lowdown-poker-betting","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/232961"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282629,"slug":"texas-holdem-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119873099","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119873096/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119873096/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119873096-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119873096/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119873096/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/9781119873099-165x255.jpg","width":165,"height":255},"title":"Texas Hold'em For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"<p><b>Mark &#8220;The Red&#8221; Harlan </b>is an avid poker player and co-creator of the first company to offer legal online poker in the United States. Along with his hours at the poker table, Mark has also spent time as a software developer for leading Silicon Valley companies.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":9669,"name":"Mark Harlan","slug":"mark-harlan","description":" <p><b>Mark &#8220;The Red&#8221; Harlan </b>is an avid poker player and co-creator of the first company to offer legal online poker in the United States. Along with his hours at the poker table, Mark has also spent time as a software developer for leading Silicon Valley companies.</p> ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9669"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;games&quot;,&quot;card-games&quot;,&quot;poker&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119873099&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b194e524\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;games&quot;,&quot;card-games&quot;,&quot;poker&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119873099&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b194efe5\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":194751,"title":"Playable Texas Hold’em Hands","slug":"playable-texas-holdem-hands","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194751"}},{"articleId":194742,"title":"Questions to Ask Yourself before You Play Texas Hold’em","slug":"questions-to-ask-yourself-before-you-play-texas-holdem","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194742"}},{"articleId":194741,"title":"Rough Odds for Texas Hold’em","slug":"rough-odds-for-texas-holdem","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194741"}},{"articleId":194746,"title":"Texas Hold’em Bluffing Tips","slug":"texas-holdem-bluffing-tips","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194746"}},{"articleId":194747,"title":"Poker Etiquette for Texas Hold’em","slug":"poker-etiquette-for-texas-holdem","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194747"}},{"articleId":194749,"title":"Online Poker Abbreviations for Texas Hold’em","slug":"online-poker-abbreviations-for-texas-holdem","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194749"}}],"content":[{"title":"Playable Texas hold’em hands","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p class=\"SortTitle\">Texas hold’em is a game of strategy, like any poker game. But where you’re sitting in relation to the action becomes part of your strategy when playing hold’em.</p>\n<p class=\"SortTitle\">If you bet early, you generally need better cards than you do if you’re one of the blinds. The following table offers sound advice on what hands are playable when you’re sitting in different positions.</p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/158047.image0.jpg\" alt=\"image0.jpg\" width=\"535\" height=\"353\" /></p>\n"},{"title":"Questions to ask yourself before you play Texas hold’em","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p class=\"SortTitle\">Whether you’re playing Texas hold’em for fun or money — make that whether you’re playing for high stakes or low stakes — make sure you’re in a position mentally, physically, and financially to enjoy the game and make the most of your chances. Ask yourself these questions before you sit down to a game:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>What is the purpose of my playing this session?</b> Whether it’s to learn more, win money, or just hang with friends for a good time, make sure you know why you’re there and that you’re doing everything you can to accomplish that goal.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>If I were to play an opponent who’s exactly the same as a well-rested, un-stressed version of me, would that person have an advantage? </b>If the answer is “yes,” hold off on playing until you’re in a better psychological and physical state.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Can my bankroll handle this level of play?</b> If not, play a lower level.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Are there any distractions in my life that I need to get rid of before I play?</b> Pay your rent, walk your dog, call your significant other — whatever it is, get it out of your head so you can focus.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Do I know if the house I’m playing in has any bonuses for players such as bad beat jackpots, high hands, free food and/or drinks for players, or freeroll tournaments?</b> If not, ask a floor person before you start playing and find out about the details of how you can qualify.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Is there an aggressive person at the table I’ll be playing at? </b>If so, try to get yourself seated to his left so you see the raises <i>before</i> your action and not after.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>What do I know about the people sitting at the table? </b>Whatever it is, use it to your advantage.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Rough odds for Texas hold’em","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p class=\"SortTitle\">Playing poker is about playing the odds. The following list gives the odds for outcomes in Texas hold’em hands. When you realize how heavily the odds are stacked against you, you may want to rethink going all-in before the flop with two suited cards. Use the odds to your advantage:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>1 percent (1-in-100):</b> Percentage of time that no player holds an Ace or a King at a table in a 10-handed game</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>1 percent (1-in-100):</b> Percentage of time that if you hold two suited cards, you’ll flop a flush</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>6 percent (about 1-in-20):</b> Percentage of time that five community cards will give pocket suited cards a flush</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>6 percent (about 1-in-20):</b> Percentage of time that you’ll be dealt a pocket pair</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>8 percent (about 1-in-12):</b> Percentage of time that you’ll hit at least trips after having a pair on the flop</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>12 percent (about 1-in-8):</b> Percentage of time that you’ll flop trips if holding a pocket pair</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>12 percent (about 1-in-8):</b> Percentage of time that two more cards will flop in the same suit as a suited pocket pair</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>19 percent (about 1-in-5):</b> Percentage of time that the five community cards will at least trip your pocket pair</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>32 percent (about 1-in-3):</b> Percentage of time that you’ll pair one of your cards on the flop (with no pocket pair)</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>33 percent (about 1-in-3):</b> Percentage of time that you’ll make a full house or better after having trips on the flop</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>35 percent (about 1-in-3):</b> Percentage of time that you’ll make a flush on the turn or river if you have four cards to a flush after the flop</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Texas hold’em bluffing tips","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p class=\"SortTitle\">What makes any poker game exciting, and Texas hold’em is certainly no exception, is that players can bluff at any point. Sometimes half the fun of a game is seeing whether you can successfully bluff an opponent out of some money. But, even as you’re misleading your opponents, make sure you bluff in the right circumstances. Heed these bluffing tips:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Only bluff where it makes a difference to your standing — either in a tournament or to your stack of chips.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Be careful bluffing someone considerably worse than you are. He may call just to see what you have, or on some probabilistically low draw when he already has you beaten anyway.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Bluff in situations where the board hints at the great hand you do not have: straights and flushes being hinted at by the board, the turn of an Ace, and so on.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Don’t try to bluff players who only play the most solid of hands if they’re still in the pot.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Don’t bluff people who are extremely likely to call.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Do bluff the timid or people who are likely to fold.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Remember that it’s easier to bluff in No-Limit than Limit because the bets (both implied and real) are bigger.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Poker etiquette for Texas hold’em","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p class=\"SortTitle\">The etiquette tips in the following list apply to Texas hold’em and to any other poker game. Sure, you can have fun while you play poker, but you can have all the fun you want without being impolite to the other players or the dealer. Basic poker etiquette includes these tips:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Always play in turn.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Be aware of when it’s your turn to post the blinds and do so promptly.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Any time there is a discrepancy at the table, talk to the dealer — not the other players — about it. If you’re not able to get satisfaction from the dealer, ask for a floor person. Talking with other players about the problem you perceive may generate ill will among people who have no authority in the situation in the first place.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Place your bets in front of you. Do not splash them into the pot.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Do not show your hand to other players at the table while a hand is in progress.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Tell the dealer when you intend to raise. In No-Limit, gather the amount that you’re going to raise and either announce the total, or move it all forward with one motion. This prevents being called on a “string raise.”</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Don’t forget to tip your dealer. Dealers work for minimum wage and rely on tips for their livelihood.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Online poker abbreviations for Texas hold’em","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p class=\"SortTitle\">Playing online poker in general, and Texas hold’em in particular, is a very popular pastime. When you’re online, you may encounter abbreviations specific to the world of poker. To understand what other players are saying, get familiar with these online abbreviations:</p>\n<table border=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th>Abbreviation</th>\n<th>What It Means</th>\n<th>Abbreviation</th>\n<th>What It Means</th>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>86</strong></td>\n<td>To remove or ban</td>\n<td><strong>ne1</strong></td>\n<td>Anyone</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>brb</strong></td>\n<td>Be right back</td>\n<td><strong>nh</strong></td>\n<td>Nice hand</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>gc/nc</strong></td>\n<td>Slightly sarcastic phrase meaning good catch/nice catch</td>\n<td><strong>gg</strong></td>\n<td>Good game</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>lol</strong></td>\n<td>Laughing out loud</td>\n<td><strong>gl</strong></td>\n<td>Good luck</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>nl</strong></td>\n<td>No-Limit</td>\n<td><strong>ty</strong></td>\n<td>Thank you</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>n1</strong></td>\n<td>Nice one</td>\n<td><strong>🙂</strong></td>\n<td>Smiley face (view sideways)</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Two years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-01-04T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":209336},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T21:42:40+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-01-26T20:34:25+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:19:03+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33884"},"slug":"games","categoryId":33884},{"name":"Card Games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33890"},"slug":"card-games","categoryId":33890},{"name":"General Card Games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33899"},"slug":"general-card-games","categoryId":33899}],"title":"Tallying Your Score in Rummy","strippedTitle":"tallying your score in rummy","slug":"tallying-your-score-in-rummy","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Learn how to score a game of rummy, including points for going rummy, counting up points from other players, and more.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"When playing rummy, the first player to be able to put all but one of the cards in their hand into combinations (places all their cards on the table) wins the hand. This is called, \"going out.\" You discard your remaining card as you go out, usually having made the others into one combination of four and one combination of three, if you're <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/games/card-games/gin-rummy/rummy-understanding-the-rules-and-starting-a-game/\">playing 7-card rummy</a>.\r\n\r\nYou do not have to make the plays at one turn; you may have put down some cards into sets already, of course. If your last two cards are two 7s, and you pick up a third 7, most people play that you can go out by making a set, without needing a final discard.\r\n\r\nThe winner collects points from all the other players. The winner bases their point total on the remaining cards in the other players’ hands, regardless of whether the cards make up completed combinations or not — which is a good reason to put down melds as soon as you get them.\r\n\r\nThe players put their cards face-up on the table and call out how many points they have left for the winner. You score the cards according to the following scale:\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">2s through 10s get their face value, meaning that a 5 is worth 5 points.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Jacks, queens, and kings receive 10 points apiece.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Wild cards cost you 15 points each, if you are playing with them (jokers are usually wild cards, and can complete any set; meaning, the joker can be a substitute for any other card in the deck).</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Aces, in keeping with their lowly status during the game, charge you 1 point only.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"Remember\">Laying all your cards down in one turn is called going rummy, which doubles your score. Obviously, the availability of this bonus affects your decision to put down combinations earlier rather than later. If you think that you can claim this bonus, you may want to delay putting down your combinations.</p>\r\nThe first player to score 100 points is the winner. For a longer game, you can play to 250 points.","description":"When playing rummy, the first player to be able to put all but one of the cards in their hand into combinations (places all their cards on the table) wins the hand. This is called, \"going out.\" You discard your remaining card as you go out, usually having made the others into one combination of four and one combination of three, if you're <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/games/card-games/gin-rummy/rummy-understanding-the-rules-and-starting-a-game/\">playing 7-card rummy</a>.\r\n\r\nYou do not have to make the plays at one turn; you may have put down some cards into sets already, of course. If your last two cards are two 7s, and you pick up a third 7, most people play that you can go out by making a set, without needing a final discard.\r\n\r\nThe winner collects points from all the other players. The winner bases their point total on the remaining cards in the other players’ hands, regardless of whether the cards make up completed combinations or not — which is a good reason to put down melds as soon as you get them.\r\n\r\nThe players put their cards face-up on the table and call out how many points they have left for the winner. You score the cards according to the following scale:\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">2s through 10s get their face value, meaning that a 5 is worth 5 points.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Jacks, queens, and kings receive 10 points apiece.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Wild cards cost you 15 points each, if you are playing with them (jokers are usually wild cards, and can complete any set; meaning, the joker can be a substitute for any other card in the deck).</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Aces, in keeping with their lowly status during the game, charge you 1 point only.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"Remember\">Laying all your cards down in one turn is called going rummy, which doubles your score. Obviously, the availability of this bonus affects your decision to put down combinations earlier rather than later. If you think that you can claim this bonus, you may want to delay putting down your combinations.</p>\r\nThe first player to score 100 points is the winner. For a longer game, you can play to 250 points.","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":10483,"name":"Barry Rigal","slug":"barry-rigal","description":" <p><B>Barry Rigal</b> is an internationally recognized Bridge player who has won countless competitions. They include the North American Bridge Championships as well as the Camrose Trophy Home International Series, which he has won five times. Barry is also the author of the previous editions of <i>Card Games For Dummies</i>. </p> ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10483"}},{"authorId":10484,"name":"Omar Sharif","slug":"omar-sharif","description":"Omar Sharif starred in hit movies Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago. He's less well known as a masterful bridge player. He used to play while on the set of his films and rose in the ranks to become one of the 50 best players in the world.","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10484"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33899,"title":"General Card Games","slug":"general-card-games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33899"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":209267,"title":"Card Games For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"card-games-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209267"}},{"articleId":200855,"title":"Playing Eights: Simple Is as Simple Does","slug":"playing-eights-simple-is-as-simple-does","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/200855"}},{"articleId":199747,"title":"Playing Beggar My Neighbor","slug":"playing-beggar-my-neighbor","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/199747"}},{"articleId":199741,"title":"Acquainting Yourself with Euchre","slug":"acquainting-yourself-with-euchre","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/199741"}},{"articleId":198911,"title":"Understanding the Basics of Gin Rummy","slug":"understanding-the-basics-of-gin-rummy","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/198911"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":233017,"title":"The Basics of Romanian Whist","slug":"basics-romanian-whist","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/233017"}},{"articleId":233014,"title":"How to Play the Card Game Oh Hell!","slug":"play-card-game-oh-hell","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/233014"}},{"articleId":233011,"title":"Playing Double-Deck Fan Tan","slug":"playing-double-deck-fan-tan","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/233011"}},{"articleId":233008,"title":"How to Expand Your Fan Tan Smarts","slug":"expand-fan-tan-smarts","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/233008"}},{"articleId":233005,"title":"How to Play the Card Game Fan Tan","slug":"play-card-game-fan-tan","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/233005"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282057,"slug":"card-games-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119880424","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119880424/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119880424/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119880424-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119880424/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119880424/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/9781119880424-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Card Games For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"<p><B><b data-author-id=\"10483\">Barry Rigal</b></b> is an internationally recognized Bridge player who has won countless competitions. They include the North American Bridge Championships as well as the Camrose Trophy Home International Series, which he has won five times. Barry is also the author of the previous editions of <i>Card Games For Dummies</i>. </p>","authors":[{"authorId":10483,"name":"Barry Rigal","slug":"barry-rigal","description":" <p><B>Barry Rigal</b> is an internationally recognized Bridge player who has won countless competitions. They include the North American Bridge Championships as well as the Camrose Trophy Home International Series, which he has won five times. Barry is also the author of the previous editions of <i>Card Games For Dummies</i>. </p> ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10483"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;games&quot;,&quot;card-games&quot;,&quot;general-card-games&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119880424&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b17cb84e\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;games&quot;,&quot;card-games&quot;,&quot;general-card-games&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119880424&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b17cc2a9\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Articles","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-01-26T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":193765},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-27T16:54:41+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-01-20T19:35:37+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:19:02+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33884"},"slug":"games","categoryId":33884},{"name":"Card Games","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33890"},"slug":"card-games","categoryId":33890},{"name":"Poker","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33897"},"slug":"poker","categoryId":33897}],"title":"Poker For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"poker for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"poker-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"This handy cheat sheet gets you up to speed on poker etiquitte when playing at home, money management, and how to pull off a bluff.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Whether you play poker for fun or money, you can use bluffing strategies and the rules of etiquette for games at home. If you play for money, tips for managing your poker chips may come in handy.","description":"Whether you play poker for fun or money, you can use bluffing strategies and the rules of etiquette for games at home. If you play for money, tips for managing your poker chips may come in handy.","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":10243,"name":"Richard D. Harroch","slug":"richard-d-harroch","description":" <b>Richard D. Harroch</b> is an attorney with over 20 years of experience in representing start-up and emerging companies, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists. He is listed in <i>Who&#8217;s Who in American Law</i> and is a corporate partner in a major law firm in San Francisco. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of U.C. Berkeley and graduated from UCLA Law School, where he was managing editor of the <i>Law Review</i>. He has edited or co-authored a number of legal/business books, including <i>Start-Up and Emerging Companies: Planning, Financing and Operating the Successful Business</i> and <i>Partnership and Joint Venture Agreements</i>.<br /> Richard was the chairman and co-founder of AllBusiness.com, one of the premier Web sites for small businesses. He was also the founder, CEO, and chairman of LawCommerce, Inc., an Internet company dedicated to providing products and sources to the legal profession.<br /> He has lectured extensively before various legal and business organizations, including the American Electronics Association, the Venture Capital Institute, the California Continuing Education of the Bar, Law Journal Seminars-Press, the California State Bar Business Section, the Corporate Counsel Institute, the San Francisco Bar, and the Practicing Law Institute (PLI).<br /> Richard has served as the chairman of the California State Bar Committee on Partnerships, the co-chairman of the Corporations Committee of the San Francisco Bar (Barristers), a member of the Executive Committee of the Business Law Section of the California State Bar, and co-chair of the <i>Law Journal</i> seminar in New York on &#8220;Joint Ventures and Strategic Alliances.&#8221;<br /> Richard has experience in the following areas: start-up and emerging companies, corporate financings, joint ventures, strategic alliances, venture capital financings, employment agreements, IPOs, leases, loans, online and Internet matters, license agreements, partnerships, preferred stock, confidentiality agreements, stock options, sales contracts, securities laws, and mergers and acquisitions.","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10243"}},{"authorId":10244,"name":"Lou Krieger","slug":"lou-krieger","description":" <b>Richard D. Harroch</b> is an attorney with over 20 years of experience in representing start-up and emerging companies, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists. He is listed in <i>Who&#8217;s Who in American Law</i> and is a corporate partner in a major law firm in San Francisco. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of U.C. Berkeley and graduated from UCLA Law School, where he was managing editor of the <i>Law Review</i>. He has edited or co-authored a number of legal/business books, including <i>Start-Up and Emerging Companies: Planning, Financing and Operating the Successful Business</i> and <i>Partnership and Joint Venture Agreements</i>.<br /> Richard was the chairman and co-founder of AllBusiness.com, one of the premier Web sites for small businesses. He was also the founder, CEO, and chairman of LawCommerce, Inc., an Internet company dedicated to providing products and sources to the legal profession.<br /> He has lectured extensively before various legal and business organizations, including the American Electronics Association, the Venture Capital Institute, the California Continuing Education of the Bar, Law Journal Seminars-Press, the California State Bar Business Section, the Corporate Counsel Institute, the San Francisco Bar, and the Practicing Law Institute (PLI).<br /> Richard has served as the chairman of the California State Bar Committee on Partnerships, the co-chairman of the Corporations Committee of the San Francisco Bar (Barristers), a member of the Executive Committee of the Business Law Section of the California State Bar, and co-chair of the <i>Law Journal</i> seminar in New York on &#8220;Joint Ventures and Strategic Alliances.&#8221;<br /> Richard has experience in the following areas: start-up and emerging companies, corporate financings, joint ventures, strategic alliances, venture capital financings, employment agreements, IPOs, leases, loans, online and Internet matters, license agreements, partnerships, preferred stock, confidentiality agreements, stock options, sales contracts, securities laws, and mergers and acquisitions.","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10244"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33897,"title":"Poker","slug":"poker","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33897"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":200920,"title":"Talking the Talk in Poker","slug":"talking-the-talk-in-poker","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/200920"}},{"articleId":199841,"title":"Mastering the Art of Bluffing in Poker","slug":"mastering-the-art-of-bluffing-in-poker","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/199841"}},{"articleId":199748,"title":"Playing a Hand of Seven-Card Stud Poker","slug":"playing-a-hand-of-seven-card-stud-poker","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/199748"}},{"articleId":198916,"title":"Understanding Poker","slug":"understanding-poker","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/198916"}},{"articleId":189558,"title":"Poker Bluffing Strategies","slug":"poker-bluffing-strategies","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/189558"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":232973,"title":"How Casino Poker Differs from Home Games","slug":"casino-poker-differs-home-games","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/232973"}},{"articleId":232970,"title":"The Basics of Casino Poker","slug":"basics-casino-poker","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/232970"}},{"articleId":232967,"title":"Know Your Poker Opponents","slug":"know-poker-opponents","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/232967"}},{"articleId":232964,"title":"Poker Betting Rules of the Road","slug":"poker-betting-rules-road","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/232964"}},{"articleId":232961,"title":"The Lowdown on Poker Betting","slug":"lowdown-poker-betting","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/232961"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282479,"slug":"poker-for-dummies","isbn":"9780764552328","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0764552325/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0764552325/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/0764552325-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0764552325/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/0764552325/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/poker-for-dummies-cover-9780764552328-202x255.jpg","width":202,"height":255},"title":"Poker For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":"Richard Harroch is an attorney and avid poker player. Lou Krieger is the author of two guides to Texas Hold 'em, the most popular tournament poker game.","authors":[{"authorId":10243,"name":"Richard D. Harroch","slug":"richard-d-harroch","description":" <b>Richard D. Harroch</b> is an attorney with over 20 years of experience in representing start-up and emerging companies, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists. He is listed in <i>Who&#8217;s Who in American Law</i> and is a corporate partner in a major law firm in San Francisco. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of U.C. Berkeley and graduated from UCLA Law School, where he was managing editor of the <i>Law Review</i>. He has edited or co-authored a number of legal/business books, including <i>Start-Up and Emerging Companies: Planning, Financing and Operating the Successful Business</i> and <i>Partnership and Joint Venture Agreements</i>.<br /> Richard was the chairman and co-founder of AllBusiness.com, one of the premier Web sites for small businesses. He was also the founder, CEO, and chairman of LawCommerce, Inc., an Internet company dedicated to providing products and sources to the legal profession.<br /> He has lectured extensively before various legal and business organizations, including the American Electronics Association, the Venture Capital Institute, the California Continuing Education of the Bar, Law Journal Seminars-Press, the California State Bar Business Section, the Corporate Counsel Institute, the San Francisco Bar, and the Practicing Law Institute (PLI).<br /> Richard has served as the chairman of the California State Bar Committee on Partnerships, the co-chairman of the Corporations Committee of the San Francisco Bar (Barristers), a member of the Executive Committee of the Business Law Section of the California State Bar, and co-chair of the <i>Law Journal</i> seminar in New York on &#8220;Joint Ventures and Strategic Alliances.&#8221;<br /> Richard has experience in the following areas: start-up and emerging companies, corporate financings, joint ventures, strategic alliances, venture capital financings, employment agreements, IPOs, leases, loans, online and Internet matters, license agreements, partnerships, preferred stock, confidentiality agreements, stock options, sales contracts, securities laws, and mergers and acquisitions.","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10243"}},{"authorId":10244,"name":"Lou Krieger","slug":"lou-krieger","description":" <b>Richard D. Harroch</b> is an attorney with over 20 years of experience in representing start-up and emerging companies, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists. He is listed in <i>Who&#8217;s Who in American Law</i> and is a corporate partner in a major law firm in San Francisco. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of U.C. Berkeley and graduated from UCLA Law School, where he was managing editor of the <i>Law Review</i>. He has edited or co-authored a number of legal/business books, including <i>Start-Up and Emerging Companies: Planning, Financing and Operating the Successful Business</i> and <i>Partnership and Joint Venture Agreements</i>.<br /> Richard was the chairman and co-founder of AllBusiness.com, one of the premier Web sites for small businesses. He was also the founder, CEO, and chairman of LawCommerce, Inc., an Internet company dedicated to providing products and sources to the legal profession.<br /> He has lectured extensively before various legal and business organizations, including the American Electronics Association, the Venture Capital Institute, the California Continuing Education of the Bar, Law Journal Seminars-Press, the California State Bar Business Section, the Corporate Counsel Institute, the San Francisco Bar, and the Practicing Law Institute (PLI).<br /> Richard has served as the chairman of the California State Bar Committee on Partnerships, the co-chairman of the Corporations Committee of the San Francisco Bar (Barristers), a member of the Executive Committee of the Business Law Section of the California State Bar, and co-chair of the <i>Law Journal</i> seminar in New York on &#8220;Joint Ventures and Strategic Alliances.&#8221;<br /> Richard has experience in the following areas: start-up and emerging companies, corporate financings, joint ventures, strategic alliances, venture capital financings, employment agreements, IPOs, leases, loans, online and Internet matters, license agreements, partnerships, preferred stock, confidentiality agreements, stock options, sales contracts, securities laws, and mergers and acquisitions.","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10244"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;games&quot;,&quot;card-games&quot;,&quot;poker&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9780764552328&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b16b6d77\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;home-auto-hobbies&quot;,&quot;games&quot;,&quot;card-games&quot;,&quot;poker&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9780764552328&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b16b7838\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":189560,"title":"Poker Etiquette at Home","slug":"poker-etiquette-at-home","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/189560"}},{"articleId":189559,"title":"Poker Money Management Tips","slug":"poker-money-management-tips","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/189559"}},{"articleId":189558,"title":"Poker Bluffing Strategies","slug":"poker-bluffing-strategies","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/189558"}}],"content":[{"title":"Poker etiquette at home","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>When you&#8217;re playing poker in your home or someone else&#8217;s, the rules of etiquette are mostly commonsense conventions and normal poker protocols. Following, are a list of things to do and things to avoid during a friendly game at home:</p>\n<p><b>Do . . .</b></p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Be honest:</b> Don&#8217;t try to short-change the pot or otherwise cheat.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Play quickly:</b> No one likes a slow player.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Be courteous and friendly:</b> No one likes a whiner or a gloater.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Be a good winner:</b> Gloating and making fun of other players is a definite no-no.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Be a good loser:</b> We all lose. It happens. But show some class and don&#8217;t show your temper, swear, or throw cards. Definitely don&#8217;t insult the other players.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Let the other players know if you plan to leave early:</b> It&#8217;s courteous to let the other players know in advance if you plan to quit early.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Bet in sequence:</b> Bet, call, or fold when it&#8217;s your turn. Acting out of turn can adversely affect another player&#8217;s hand.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<p><b>Don</b><b>&#8216;</b><b>t . . .</b></p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Give a player advice in the middle of a hand even if asked:</b> This is a no-win proposition. Either the player who asked will be upset at you if the advice is wrong or the person who loses against the player will be mad at you.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Look at another player&#8217;s hand, unless you have permission:</b> Some players strongly object to your looking at their hand.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Play poker with a guy named &#8220;Doyle,&#8221; &#8220;Amarillo Slim,&#8221; or &#8220;Harpo&#8221;: </b>These guys are too good for your normal home game.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Poker money management tips","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>As a poker player, you know that a poker game theoretically never ends. The tips in the following list are suggestions to keep in mind to manage your poker-playing funds:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Quitting after you&#8217;ve won a certain amount of money will neither stop your losses in the long run if you are a losing player nor protect your profits if you are a winner.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Poor players will lose their money no matter what they do. Good players establish an expected hourly win rate whether or not they quit after they&#8217;ve pocketed a certain amount of winnings.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Playing fewer hours by quitting when you&#8217;re ahead isn&#8217;t always the right strategy.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">If you&#8217;re playing in a good game, and you are playing your best, stay in the game unless you have other obligations.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">If you&#8217;re in a bad game, get out of it now — never mind if you&#8217;re winning or not.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">If you&#8217;re emotionally upset, stressed out, fighting the flu, or otherwise not at your best, you&#8217;re better off not playing since your maladies will ultimately take themselves out on your bankroll.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Poker bluffing strategies","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Bluffing is a well-established and time-honored poker strategy. The next time you&#8217;re inclined to attempt that particular type of larceny at the poker table, keep these bluffing tips in mind:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Be aware of how many players you&#8217;ll have to bluff your way through.</b> While one or even two players can be bluffed, don&#8217;t think about trying to bluff more than two opponents unless you really have strong reasons to believe you&#8217;ll succeed.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Take the opportunity to bluff if all of your opponents check on the previous betting round. </b>It&#8217;s even better if they&#8217;ve all checked on an expensive betting round. But your chances are diminished if any newly exposed cards appear to have helped one of your opponents.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Understand that a bluff doesn&#8217;t have to work to make it the correct decision.</b> After all, you&#8217;re usually just risking one bet to win an entire pot full of bets. Bluffing has to work only some of the time to be the right choice. And even when you&#8217;re caught, a bluff can be successful if it causes opponents to call when you are betting a strong hand.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Imply specific hands.</b> Bluffs that seem to represent specific hands, such as a flush or a straight, have a much better chance to succeed than bets that appear to come out of the blue.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Avoid bluffing players who are either experts or brain dead.</b> Instead, aim your bluffs at good opponents. Poor players will usually call &#8220;to keep you honest,&#8221; while experts are more likely to see through your chicanery.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Zero in on weak players.</b> It&#8217;s much easier to bluff players who have shown weakness by checking, than to bluff those who have shown strength by betting on the preceding round.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Don&#8217;t bluff for the sake of bluffing.</b> Some players will bluff just to &#8220;advertise.&#8221; There&#8217;s no need to do that. Bluff if you believe you have a reasonable chance to succeed. You&#8217;ll get plenty of advertising value because some of your bluffs will be picked off regardless of how well you assess your chances for success.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Strive for a tight, aggressive image.</b> This kind of image has a much better chance of running a successful bluff than a player with a loose image. If you are seen as selective, tight, and aggressive, your opponents will not suspect a bluff when you bet. When you have a license to steal, use it.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Never bluff a hopeless hand when there are more cards to come.</b> Instead, think about semi-bluffing, which allows you to win the pot two ways: Your opponents may fold, or you might hit your draw.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Attempt a bluff occasionally when all the cards are out and you have nothing, </b>but don&#8217;t overdo it. But if you have enough to beat a draw, save that additional bet and try to win in a showdown.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Five 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General Card Games How to Play the Card Game Accordion

Article / Updated 12-14-2022

The card game Accordion is also known as Methuselah, Tower of Babel, or Idle Year (presumably because of the amount of time you need to keep playing the game to win it). Accordion is a charmingly straightforward game that can easily seduce you into assuming that it must be easy to solve. Be warned — we've never known anyone who has completed a game of Accordion! This challenge makes success at the game doubly pleasurable. Accordion also takes up very little space — a major benefit because you tend to play Solitaire in a cramped space, such as while waiting in a bus station or an airport gate. The objective of Accordion is to finish up with a single pile of 52 cards. Relative success is reducing the number of piles to four or fewer. Your chances of complete victory may be less than 1 in 1,000, but don't let that deter you from giving this game a try! The fact that it is a very fast game to play means that you can abandon unpromising hands and move on to another without wasting much time. Looking at the layout The layout for Accordion is simple. Follow these steps to begin your long journey: Shuffle the deck well, and then turn over the top card in your deck and put it to your left to start your layout. Turn over the next card. If the card is either the same suit (both clubs, for example) or the same rank (both jacks) as the first card, put the second card on top of the first. If you don't have a match, use the card to start a new pile. Turn over the third card and compare it to the second card. Again, if the suits or ranks of the cards match, put the third card on top of the second card; if not, start a third pile with the third card. You can't match the third card with the first card. However, when matching cards (of suit or rank) are three cards apart, you can combine them as if the cards were adjacent. In other words, you can build the fourth card on the first one. Continue by going through every card in the deck in this way. The game ends after you turn over the last card. To win, you must assemble all the cards into one pile. Shuffling the deck well is important because you work your way through the deck one card at a time, so you don't want to make the game too easy by having all the diamonds coming together, for example. That would spoil your sense of achievement, wouldn't it? Your initial cards may look like one of the examples shown here after you lay out three cards. In the first example, you must create three different piles because the cards are unrelated in rank or suit. In the middle example, you can put the 4 of diamonds on top of the queen of diamonds (because they share the same suit), leaving you with only two piles. In the last example, you can put the 7 of diamonds on top of the queen of diamonds, which allows you to combine the two 7s, resulting in a single pile. To see how you can combine cards placed three piles away from each other, look here. After you turn up the queen of clubs, you can place it on the queen of diamonds (because they're three apart and match in rank) and then put the king of clubs on the queen of clubs (same suit). The jack of hearts then moves to the first row. Laying the cards out in lines of three helps ensure that you properly identify the cards that are three piles apart. Choosing between moves When moving the cards, you frequently have to be careful to make the plays in the correct order to set up more plays. You may have a choice of moves, but you may not be sure which move to execute first. Look at a possible scenario shown here. After you turn up the 4 of hearts, you can place it on the 9 of hearts, which opens up a series of moves that you can play. The best option is to move the 4 of hearts onto the 4 of spades and then move the rest of the cards into their new spaces. Because the king of spades is three cards away from the king of clubs, you can combine the two cards and then move the 4 of hearts onto the jack of hearts. Now the 9 of diamondsis three cards away from the queen of diamonds, so you can combine those two cards. If you move the 4 of hearts before you move the king of clubs, you miss out on two possible moves. Making an available play isn't always mandatory. When you can choose between possible moves, play a couple more cards to help you decide which move is superior. The figure shows you how waiting can help you make up your mind when you have a choice. At this point, you may not know whether to put the ace of spades on the ace of clubs or on the king of spades because your piles don't indicate whether you should keep aces or kings on top of your piles. If several piles have kings on the top, you may want to avoid hiding the king of spades. Instead of jumping the gun, you turn over another card to see what happens, which turns out to be the jack of spades. Now you can see daylight: Put the jack of spades on the ace of spades and then on the king of spades, and then you put the jack of spades on the jack of hearts. Now you can combine the 9s. Next, put the 4 of spades on the jack of spades, allowing the ace of clubs to go on the king of clubs and the 9 of diamonds to go on the queen of diamonds. Put the 4 of spades on the 7 of spades to move down to three piles. Wasn't that fun? Getting a series of moves to come together like that makes up for the hundreds of unexciting plays you go through. Play continues until you end up with one pile of cards — good luck!

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General Card Games Rummy: Understanding the Rules and Starting a Game

Article / Updated 11-14-2022

Listen to the article:Download audio Rummy is a card game in which you try to improve the hand that you’re originally dealt. You can do this whenever it’s your turn to play, either by drawing cards from a pile (or stock) or by picking up the card thrown away by your opponent and then discarding a card from your hand. You can play rummy with two or more players (for six or more players, you need a second deck of cards). You'll also need a paper and pencil for scoring. Learn how to play rummy and other basics including rules, scoring, and how to win! The objective of rummy Your aim is to put (or meld) your cards into two types of combinations: Runs: Consecutive sequences of three or more cards of the same suit Sets (or books): Three or four cards of the same rank. If you are using two decks, a set may include two identical cards of the same rank and suit. This figure shows some legitimate rummy combinations. This figure shows an unacceptable combination. This run is illegal because all cards in a run must be of the same suit. In most rummy games, unlike the majority of other card games, aces can be high or low, but not both. So, runs involving the ace must take the form A-2-3 or A-K-Q but not K-A-2. The first person who manages to make their whole hand into combinations one way or another, with one card remaining to discard, wins the game. How to play rummy Follow the rules and instructions below to understand how to play rummy from start to finish: Each player is dealt a certain number of cards from the deck. When playing rummy with two, three, or four players, each player gets ten cards; when playing with five players, each player gets six cards. With more than five players, you must use two decks of cards and a hand of seven cards. The two-player game can also be played with seven cards each. Designate a scorer and a dealer at the start of the game. Then, the dealer deals out the hands and puts the undealt cards face-down on the center of the table as the stock, placing the top card, turned upward, beside the stock as the first card of the discard pile. The player to the left of the dealer plays first. They can either pick up the card on the discard pile or the top card from the stock. If they can put some or all of their hand into combinations, they may do so. If not, they discard one card from their hand, face-up onto the discard pile, and the turn of play moves to the next player. The next player can either pick up the last card the previous player discarded or the top card from the stock. They can then meld some or all of their cards down in combinations. The play continues clockwise around the table. When the stock runs out, shuffle the discard pile and set it up again. Other rummy rules and tips Now that you know the objective of the game and the basic instructions to play, here is a small list of additional rummy rules and common tips to abide by: You cannot pick up the top discard and then throw the card back onto the pile. If you pick up two cards from the stock by accident and see either of them, you must put the bottom card back, which gives the next player an additional option. They can look at the returned card and take it if they want it. If they don't want it, they put it back into the middle of the stock and continue with their turn by taking the next card from the stock. When you pick up a card from the stock that you don’t want, don’t throw it away immediately. Put the card into your hand and then extract it. No player, regardless of skill level, needs to give gratuitous information away. Rummying with wild cards You can play rummy with wild cards by adding jokers to the deck, or you can make the 2s or some other number wild. You can substitute the card represented by a wild card when it is your turn to play. So, if a combination including a joker, standing in for the king of clubs is put on the table, the next player can put in the king of clubs and pick up the joker for use elsewhere. If you put down two 8s and a joker, you do not have to announce which 8 the joker represents, but with a run, such as 5-6-joker, the assumption is that the joker represents the 7. When playing with wild cards, you may not want to put combinations containing wild cards down immediately; you don’t want to give another player the use of a wild card by way of the substitution. Of course, if you feel obliged to put down the set or run, try to ensure that the card your wild card replaces has already been played in some other set or run. Once you've mastered the game of rummy, you might want to try the slightly more interesting and challenging gin rummy.

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General Card Games How to Play Gin Rummy

Article / Updated 10-18-2022

Gin rummy is very similar to regular rummy, but gin has some additional wrinkles that make it a more interesting and challenging game. To play gin rummy, you need the following: Two players: If more than two people want to play, you may want to send the extras out for ice cream or a walk. A standard deck of 52 cards; no jokers are allowed in the gin house. Paper and pencil for scoring. Getting a fair deal Both players get ten cards. The dealer turns the rest of the cards into the stock by placing them in the center of the table and turning over the first card. The upcard, the card turned up to start the game, is offered to the nondealer first. If they don't want the upcard, the dealer may take it, and then play continues. Gin rummy play resembles regular rummy, except for how you go out, and the fact that you do not put down combinations mid-hand. The first upcard is a free card; be prepared to take it, even if it has no relevance to your hand because the option reverts to your opponent if you don’t take advantage of it. If nothing else, taking the card misleads your opponent about the combinations in your hand. You cannot take up the discard and then immediately put it down — just as at rummy. Going gin and tallying your score The most difficult (and therefore rewarding) way to go out and win the game is to put all your cards into melds, which is called going gin. If you go gin, you score 25 points, plus the sum of whatever your opponent fails to make into complete combinations — their unconnected cards, or deadwood. You must pick up a card, either from the stock or the discard pile, before you go gin. To better understand how to score points after you win, take a look at the cards in this figure. The winner collects points from the deadwood in the loser’s hand. The example opponent has 18 points left: two 4s and two 5s add up to 18 points. Together with the 25 points you get for going gin, you score 43 points. You can play to 100 or 250 points, depending on how long you want the contest to last. Knock, knock! Another way to go out The most intriguing facet of the rules of gin rummy, compared to the standard rummy rules, is that you have more than one way to go out. Instead of forming all your cards into combinations, you have the option to knock (which involves literally tapping the table). You knock when You’ve put almost all your cards into combinations and The cards that don’t make melds total less than or equal to 10 points. If you meet these criteria, you can knock (just once will do — no matter how happy it makes you feel) and then put your cards down on the table. After you knock, play stops, and the tallying begins. Your score comes from the deadwood — the cards that aren’t part of combinations. If your opponent’s deadwood exceeds yours, you pick up the difference between your total and theirs. If your opponent’s deadwood doesn’t exceed yours, you must face the consequences. Sometimes your opponent can outdo you when you knock because they have an additional way to get rid of his deadwood. They can put down their melds, and those cards don’t count toward their score. They can also add their loose cards to your combinations. After your opponent adds any loose cards, only their remaining cards count. Take a look at the cards in this figure to get an idea of how to score after you knock. If you count up all the cards in this figure, you see that your 5 points against the opponent's 28 leaves you with 23 points. If you knock, you don’t get 25 points for going out.

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Bridge Bidding and Making Your Contract in Bridge

Article / Updated 08-03-2022

Bridge scoring revolves around the final contract (as determined by the bidding) and the number of tricks actually taken by the side buying the contract. If your final contract is 3, your goal is to win at least nine tricks and clubs are trump, the “wild” suit. If you take exactly nine tricks, you make your contract. If you take ten tricks, you have made your contract plus an extra trick, called an overtrick. In bridge, as the side buying the contract, you score points only if you make your contract or if you make your contract with overtrick(s). Overtricks score points for your side but don’t contribute toward completing a game contract of 100 or more points. To calculate the number of tricks you need to take to fulfill your final contract, add six to the number, or level, of the bid. For example, if your final contract is 5♠, you need to take 11 tricks to make your contract (5 + 6 = 11). If you don’t make your contract, the bad guys (the opponents) rack up penalty points and your side gets nada for your efforts. For example, if you take eight tricks in your contract of 3, you would be one trick short of making your contract (and concede one undertrick); your opponents would get to add points to their score. Your goal on every hand is to make your contract; overtricks are icing on the cake, and undertricks, though inevitable, are something you try to avoid. Understanding the importance of bidding in bridge In bridge, the pressure is on the partnership that gets (or buys) the final contract — that side has to win the number of tricks it contracts for. If the partnership fails to win that number of tricks, penalty points are scored by the opponents. If the partnership takes at least the number of tricks it has contracted for, it then scores points. In addition to determining how many tricks a partnership needs to fulfill the contract, the bidding also determines the following: The declarer and the dummy for the hand: For the partnership that buys the final contract, the bidding determines who plays the hand for the partnership (the declarer) and who gets to watch (the dummy). The number of tricks the partnership needs to make the final contract: Each bid is like a stepping stone to the number of tricks that a partnership thinks it can take. The goal of the partnership that buys the final contract is to take at least the number of tricks contracted for. The trump suit (if the hand has one): Depending on the cards held by the partnership that winds up playing the hand, there may be a trump suit (or the bidding may end in a notrump contract). Proper bidding also allows the partners to exchange information about the strength (the number of high-card points) and distribution of their cards. Through bidding, you and your partner can tell each other which long suits you have and perhaps in which suits you have honor cards (aces, kings, queens, jacks, and 10s). Based on the information exchanged during the bidding, the partnership has to decide how many tricks it thinks it can take. The partnership with the greater combined high-card strength usually winds up playing the hand. The declarer (the one who plays the hand) tries to take the number of tricks (or more) that his side has contracted for. The opponents, on the other hand, do their darndest to prevent the declarer from winning those tricks. Partnerships exchange vital information about the makeup of their hands through a bidding system. Because you can’t tell your partner what you have in plain English, you have to use a legal bridge bidding system. Think of it as a foreign language in which every bid you make carries some message. Although you can’t say to your partner, “Hey, partner, I have seven strong hearts but only one ace and one king,” an accurate bidding system can come close to describing such a hand. The bidding (or auction) consists of only the permitted bids; you don’t get to describe your hand by using facial expressions, kicking your partner under the table, or punching him in the nose. Your partner must also understand the conventional significance of your bids to make sense of what you’re trying to communicate about your hand and to know how to respond properly. If not, it’s the Tower of Babel all over again! Of course, everyone at the table hears your bid and everyone else’s bid at the table. No secrets are allowed. Your opponents are privy to the same information your bid tells your partner. Similarly, by listening to your opponents’ bidding, you get a feel for the cards that your opponents have (their strength and distribution). You can then use this information to your advantage when the play of the hand begins. Bridge authorities agree that bidding is the most important aspect of the game. Using a simple system and making clear bids is the key to getting to the proper contract and racking up the points. Bidding incorrectly (giving your partner a bum steer) leads to lousy contracts, which, in turn, lets your opponents rack up the points when you fail to make your contract. Of course, you have to know how to take the tricks you contracted for, or else even the most beautiful contracts in the world lead nowhere. Not to worry; the play-of-the-hand techniques can help pull you through.

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Bridge 10 Great Bridge Resources

Article / Updated 05-23-2022

When you get hooked on the game, you may want to reach out for bridge information. Here’s some help! Keep reading for ten great references and resources that you may find handy. The American Contract Bridge League Joining the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) is a must-do. The ACBL is an excellent source of information about current events in the bridge community. The league can help you find bridge clubs throughout the country as well as locate local and national tournaments all over America. At times it even offers sanctioned bridge cruises at sea. The ACBL also maintains a fabulous website with a wealth of information for new players. Bridge Bulletin is the official publication of the ACBL and is worth many times more than the yearly dues. The magazine includes a special “New Players Section” as well as sections for intermediate and advanced players with monthly articles by various bridge writers, including yours truly. Membership is $29 for the first year. After that, membership runs $39 per year or $111 for three years. If you are 26 years old or younger, membership costs only $15 per year. (The ACBL encourages younger players as much as it can.) You can contact the ACBL by phone at 662-253-3100. Your local bridge club The local bridge club is a great place to go when you’re starting out with bridge. Clubs offer all kinds of enticements, including beginning and intermediate lessons, but best of all you can get together and play with people who are at approximately your skill level. Nothing can supplant actual play for gaining experience. Suddenly the books you read make more sense because you actually experience what you read about. Visit the ACBL website for more information about how to contact bridge clubs in your area. Adult education classes Some adult schools offer bridge classes at modest prices and give you an opportunity to meet newer bridge players like yourself. Check your local high school or parks and recreation department for adult education classes in your area. You may get lucky. Your local library and bookstore Most libraries have a reasonable selection of bridge books, and borrowing a book is cheaper than buying one, especially if you’re just starting out with the game. Of course, your local bookstore also may have the latest bridge books if you want one of your own. The Daily bridge column in your newspaper Some people who don’t even play bridge read the bridge columns because they’re amusing. A good column is informative, instructive, and entertaining. The major bridge columnists usually come through on all three counts. Here are four good bets, in no particular order (they’re all winners): “Bridge” by Frank Stewart “Goren on Bridge” by Tannah Hirsch “The Aces on Bridge” by Bobby Wolff “Bridge” by Steve Becker Shop around in other major newspapers if you can’t find the column you want to read in your regular newspaper. Bridge magazines Some of the information in the following magazines may go a tad over your head until you have played a little bridge, but all of them offer articles for beginners. Bridge Bulletin This fabulous magazine comes from the ACBL. The Bridge World The Bridge World is the granddaddy of all bridge publications and is the most respected bridge publication in the world. Unfortunately, the magazine is aimed primarily at advanced players. However, don’t despair; The Bridge World offers information for players of all levels, including beginners, at its website. You can contact The Bridge World at the website or email [email protected] for current subscription information. Better Bridge by Audrey Grant Audrey Grant, a top international instructor, offers a bi-monthly 24-page magazine. Each issue is full of useful information brought to you by the world’s best players and writers. Many up-to-date tips will have you playing better bridge. The price is $29. Check out BaronBarclay.com or phone 800-274-2221 for more information. Bridge software programs Many excellent teaching programs are available for the computer. The internet You can surf the Net to find all kinds of bridge information and to play bridge online. By the way, kantarbridge.com, is loaded with tips, quizzes, books, travel plans, and even a section on bridge humor. Check it out. Bridge supply sites Want a bridge book, bridge software, or a bridge-related gift? Here are a couple of proven suggestions for obtaining these items. Baron Barclay Bridge Supplies 3600 Chamberlain Ln., #206 Louisville, KY 40241 Phone: 800-274-2221 You can ask for a free catalog before you make any command decisions. Amazon.com also offers many bridge-related items, including books, cards, special bidding boxes, and other useful paraphernalia to enhance your game. Bridge travel Would you like to go on a bridge cruise? Would you like to spend a week at a beautiful five-star hotel and be surrounded with bridge activities? Read on. Bridge instruction on cruise ships Cruise ships offer an unequaled opportunity to immerse yourself in bridge activities. Many major cruise ships set sail with a bridge teacher on board. When the ship is at sea, you get a lesson in the morning and the chance to enter a friendly tournament in the afternoon. However, you can simply play bridge in the card room, if you prefer. Check with the cruise line you’re interested in to verify whether it offers a bridge program. Bridge tours Bridge tours offer great opportunities to play bridge to your heart’s content at some really great places. There are several travel agencies that deal specifically with bridge groups, but you can type “contract bridge tours” into your favorite search engine for more options. Liz Nixon’s World of Cruise and Travel Phone: 800-548-2789 Email: [email protected] Bridge Holidays with Roberta and Arnold Salob Phone 800-807-7009 Alice Travel Phone: 800-229-2542 Finesse West Tours Phone: 800-548-8062

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Bridge Bridge For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 03-14-2022

Arguably, bridge is the greatest card game ever. Not only is it a lifelong friend, it also enables you to make lifelong friends because it's a partnership game. From the four phases of playing a bridge hand to some expert advice on bidding, get started with playing bridge and then refine your game to increase your chances of winning.

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General Card Games Card Games For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 02-14-2022

The variety of card games means that you can find one to suit most any situation. Most card players are familiar with some type of poker, though they may need to be reminded of how the hands are ranked. You can play some card games as long as all the players are happy to continue; others end at a particular score, and all are made more enjoyable when players adhere to card-game etiquette.

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Poker Texas Hold’em For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 02-04-2022

Texas hold’em poker is everywhere these days — on TV, online, and in clubs and casinos. Before you sit down to a game of Texas hold 'em, make sure you’re in good shape to be successful — take care of non-poker issues and check your physical, mental, and financial status. During the game, you need to understand basic odds and playable hands, as well as how to bluff successfully and follow proper poker etiquette. Texas hold 'em also has its own abbreviations for online play.

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General Card Games Tallying Your Score in Rummy

Article / Updated 01-26-2022

When playing rummy, the first player to be able to put all but one of the cards in their hand into combinations (places all their cards on the table) wins the hand. This is called, "going out." You discard your remaining card as you go out, usually having made the others into one combination of four and one combination of three, if you're playing 7-card rummy. You do not have to make the plays at one turn; you may have put down some cards into sets already, of course. If your last two cards are two 7s, and you pick up a third 7, most people play that you can go out by making a set, without needing a final discard. The winner collects points from all the other players. The winner bases their point total on the remaining cards in the other players’ hands, regardless of whether the cards make up completed combinations or not — which is a good reason to put down melds as soon as you get them. The players put their cards face-up on the table and call out how many points they have left for the winner. You score the cards according to the following scale: 2s through 10s get their face value, meaning that a 5 is worth 5 points. Jacks, queens, and kings receive 10 points apiece. Wild cards cost you 15 points each, if you are playing with them (jokers are usually wild cards, and can complete any set; meaning, the joker can be a substitute for any other card in the deck). Aces, in keeping with their lowly status during the game, charge you 1 point only. Laying all your cards down in one turn is called going rummy, which doubles your score. Obviously, the availability of this bonus affects your decision to put down combinations earlier rather than later. If you think that you can claim this bonus, you may want to delay putting down your combinations. The first player to score 100 points is the winner. For a longer game, you can play to 250 points.

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Poker Poker For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 01-20-2022

Whether you play poker for fun or money, you can use bluffing strategies and the rules of etiquette for games at home. If you play for money, tips for managing your poker chips may come in handy.

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