Section

Online

USA

Jeff Goldsmith

Italy

UK

Australia

Sequence of play

Deal, Choice of Game, Bidding, Play, Scoring, Pass of Deal. Rotation is clockwise.

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

“No double no trouble”. Negative games: if nobody doubles, this is “thrown in” and the negative score is divided amongst all players except the person whose boat it is.

Yes

Opt

Opt

No

Yes

Yes

The deal

Rank is: AKQJ1098765432

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Dominoes:  Ace is high

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

Choice of games

Cut for position and deal.

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Each player takes it in turn to call the gesture .

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Rare

No

Each player has to call all seven gestures.  The boat then passes to the person on their left

No

No

No

Yes

Either

Yes

Bidding

· Each non-declarer can, in turn, double any other player. 

· Each non-declarer calling after a player who has doubled them, may redouble.

· Declarer may redouble anybody who has doubled him.

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

A non-declarer who has been doubled by a player calling after him is allowed to redouble. (ie there are 2 rounds of bidding)

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

On positive games: doubles of non-declarer are prohibited

Yes

No

No

Either

Yes

Yes

Each player must double declarer at least twice in the whole game.

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Proprieties

Coffeehousing (during the bidding only) is acceptable.

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

Carding agreements are acceptable

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Playing and scoring

Any player can always see the last trick, so long as they have not played to the next trick.

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

In games like hearts, queens, these cards are left face up.

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

The games:

Barbu

Hearts cannot be led unless you only have hearts

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Israeli Rules: player holding HK may try to maximise his score, but may not discriminate between opponents with whom he has equal business.

Yes

Opt

Yes

**

Opt

Modified Israeli Rules: player holding HK may try to maximise his score, but may not discriminate between opponents with whom he has equal business.  If, as a result, he gives HK to a player with equal business to another, to whom they could have given HK earlier, it is deemed to have been given to the earlier player.

No

Yes

Rare

“Cambridge” Israeli rules: Must discard HK at first opportunity unless one has more action with another player than the one currently winning the trick.

No

Opt

Yes

Opt

No

Can only redouble if you have the king of hearts

No

Yes

Trumps

No Trumps is possible

No

No

No

Yes

Rare

No

You must ruff if you can.

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

You must overruff if you can. (no need to underruff)

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

When trumps are led you must play a higher trump card, if you can

Yes

Opt

No

No

Yes

Yes

Misere

No Queens

No Last Two

No Hearts

Hearts cannot be led unless you only have hearts

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Dominoes

Fantan Ace is high

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

Must state base card (before auction)

Yes

Opt

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Must have base card

No

No

Yes

No

No

No

Extra Game

Ravage City

No

Opt

Opt

No

No

No

Scoring

No of players

4 is best. Can play as 5.

3 player version known as “Alif” (4th player’s cards are tabled face up and this “player” (need to complete)

We have 4 movements or styles of scoring for more than 8 players.

Movements

For 8+ players: (need to complete) Individual Swiss; Duplicate; Teams of two; Combination aggregate and duplicate

Rulings

Revoking at Dominoes mean you automatically come last.

Yes

Yes

During bidding you cannot change your call (even if the next person has not bid).

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Misc

Bad Doubles: see Jeff’s site.

Barden’s law

In negative games (except NLT): if you have single business with everyone, and you take no tricks, you get + (the total available for the game). For each items you take subtract 5 times the value of an item.

Score = (total available for game) –
  [5 x(number of items you took) x (unit cost of item)]

Italy – they play Kings and Jacks (like Queens) - but only in some games.  In all games, if the next person has not yet bid, you are allowed to change your call. ** In Italy the rules about Barbu are agreed at the table. Most common is that: if there have been double and redoubles, then the declarer holds onto the HK at least till 4 cards to the end and other players cash the lead suit collaborating with her. Other regional variations are that in Milan: In some clubs if declarer has a poor hand she can call “vaffa”, a small amount is deducted from her and adjustments made to other players.

France – they play the games in a fixed order

Other variations: declarer can choose to “sell” their hand (by auction).

Online

UK and Australia

Italy

Barbu (no King of Hearts)

-20

-15

-25

Trumps

Each + 5

Each + 5

Each + 5

Misere

Each -2

Each -2

Each – 5

No Queens

Each -6

Each -6

Each –15

No Last Two

-10 / -20

-10 / -20

-10 / -20

No Hearts

HA = -6,

rest each –2

HA = -6,

rest each –2

HA = -12,

rest each –4

Dominoes

+45/+20/+5/-5

+40/+20/10/-10

+40/+20/0/-20

(Ravage)

Total boat

0

0

-135