Joker High

Contributed by Michael Lawson (wwcomxxw@airmail.net)

Players: 3,4, or 6 players

Cards: pack of 52, plus Jokers

The deal: the dealer deals 6 cards for the nest and the rest is dealt out to the players.

How the cards are ranked: the high Joker, the one with writing on it; follow by Joker, Jack of the trump, next jack of the same color, followed by A, K, Q, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.

Example: trump is hearts, Joker with writing, Joker, Jack of Hearts, Jack of Diamonds, A, K, Q, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2.

The trump is ranked: Hearts, Spades, Diamonds, Clubs and No Trump.

Scoring: The tricks are worth 10 points each. A player bids 5 tricks. Each trick is worth 10 points and every extra trick is worth one point. If the player does not make the bid, it goes back to whatever he bids. Winner of the game, player, or team makes 250 or 500 points first.

Nello: The player must not make a trick. If the player makes a trick, the player goes back 100 points. If the player makes no tricks, the player makes 100 points.

The partners of a player who calls nello can help their partner.

The partners of a player who calls nello can also make the bid.

The dealer can call Nello only after a player bids first.

Playing with three players, the game uses a dummy hand for the fourth player. The dummy hand is placed on the left of whoever makes the bid.

The player on the left of the dummy hand plays the dummies cards. The cards are played at random; no one knows what the dummy will play.

When a player passes, the dealer must take the bid the second time around.

The player on the left of the dealer starts the bid. The players can bid as high as it takes to win the bid.

The player has to follow suit and you do not have to trump; you can throw down any card.

A player who makes a bid must take the bid.

The bid with 3 or 4 players starts at 5. If no one take the bid, the dealer has to take the bid at 4.

The bid with 6 players starts at 4. If no one take the bid the dealer has to take the bid at 2.

When playing with 4 or 6 players: play with teams or against each other.

When playing 6 players: play with 3 teams two or 2 teams of 3.

The nest: whoever wins the bid wins the nest. You can use whatever cards you want from the nest and then discard 6 cards.

No trump: bid is ranked in this order: Joker with writing on it, Joker, A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. When the player plays a Joker; the player calls the Joker either Hearts, Spades, Diamonds, or Clubs.