Bezique

How to play Bezique

1. 1A game for two played with 64 cards: two packs of just the 7s up to the Aces. In each suit the Ace ranks highest, then the 10, King, Queen, Jack, 9, 8 and 7. Each player gets eight cards, the next card is turned face up to name trump, and the rest make a face-down stock lying across it. If that card is a 7, the dealer scores 10.
2. 2The non-dealer leads first. While the stock lasts you may play any card you like: the higher card of the suit led wins, a trump beats any other suit, and when both cards are the same the one led wins.
3. 3Whoever takes a trick may lay down one meld from their hand, then draws from the stock, and the other player draws too. Melds stay face up in front of you and you can still play them to tricks. Each meld needs at least one new card from your hand, and a card can score again only in a different kind of meld.
4. 4Melds: King and Queen of one suit 20 (40 in trumps), the Queen of spades with the Jack of diamonds (a bezique) 40, both of each (a double bezique) 500, four Aces 100, four Kings 80, four Queens 60, four Jacks 40, and Ace, 10, King, Queen and Jack of trumps 250. After taking a trick you can also swap a 7 of trumps for the turned-up card, or just show it, for 10.
5. 5Every Ace and 10 you take in tricks (a brisque) scores 10. Once the stock and the turned-up card are gone, melds go back into your hand and the last eight tricks are strict: follow suit and beat the card led if you can, and trump if you can't follow. The last trick scores 10.
6. 6Scores carry over from hand to hand. The first to 1000 at the end of a hand wins the game.

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