Around the world
Great games that are national favourites somewhere else but barely known in Germany, Britain or the US – from the Basque Country to Kerala.
- #1 Mus The Basque bluffing game – four cards, four contests, secret signals to your partner and one word that stakes everything: órdago! The Basque bluffing game: four contests, secret signals to your partner and the all-in cry "órdago!"
- #2 Truco Argentina's loud and lively bluffing game – three cards, three tricks, and a partner winking at you across the table as you shout "Truco!" Argentina's loud and lively bluffing game – three cards, three tricks and a partner winking across the table.
- #3 Dou Dizhu (Fight the Landlord) One landlord against two peasants – bid for the three hidden cards, blast your way out with bombs and rockets and play out first. China's landlord game: one against two, bombs and rockets, and hands that end in a flash.
- #4 Guandan Two decks, four jokers and a wild Heart – team up, climb the levels from 2 to Ace and smash your bombs on the table. The partnership climbing game with two decks, a wild Heart and levels from 2 to Ace.
- #5 Ulti Hungary's national game – rob the two spare cards, outbid your friends and win the last trick with the humble 7 of trumps. Hungary's national game – bid combinations of contracts and try to take the last trick with the 7 of trumps.
- #6 Preference (Preferans) Bid for tricks, take the widow and watch your pool grow while the mountain stays low – Russia's great game for three. Russia's great game for three: precise bidding and long pool scoring over a whole evening.
- #7 Hokm The Persian game of command – the Hakem picks trumps after five cards, and the first team to seven tricks takes the hand. The Persian game of command: the Hakem picks trumps after five cards, first team to seven tricks wins the hand.
- #8 Twenty-Eight (28) Kerala's partnership game – Jacks and Nines rule, and the highest bidder hides trumps face down until someone asks to see them. Kerala's partnership game: Jacks and Nines rule, and the bidder hides trumps face down until someone asks.
- #9 Cuarenta Ecuador's loud and cheeky national game – snap a match onto your opponent's card for a caída, sweep the table and race to 40. Ecuador's loud and cheeky national game: snap a match onto your opponent's card and race to 40.
- #10 Tressette No trumps, no bidding – just 3s over 2s over Aces, a partner who knocks on the table, and the race to 21. Italy's trumpless partnership game where 3s beat 2s beat Aces and your partner knocks on the table.