Deberts Game Rules

Deberts is a strategic card game where players compete through multiple rounds until one reaches the required score to win. Each round consists of four stages and we will dive deep into each.

  • Cards Dealing
  • Combination Call
  • Game Round
  • Game Score
1

Cards Dealing and Trump Assignment

Distribute your hand and prepare for strategic play.

Cards Dealing

Two, three or four players can take part in the duel, a deck of 32 cards (without sixes) is used. Each participant receives 6 cards, then the dealer randomly draws a trump card from the remaining deck. The players evaluate the situation - are there any combinations and how many trump cards have come, what is the cover, i.e. how many points can they score.

Trump Card Assignment

Round 1: Random player starts bidding; first "I play" sets trump. Round 2: If all pass, players nominate a different suit; last player must choose if all pass again. After trump is set, deal three more cards for a total of nine (eight in four-player games).

2

Situation Assessing and Combination Call

The importance of combination recognition.

Bella and Trump Jack

The combination of the Trump Queen and King, also known as 'Bella,' grants a player 20 points at the very beginning of the game. Possessing the Trump Jack also brings a player 20 points.

Trump Nine

Holding the trump Nine at the beginning of a round grants 14 points. However, if another player beats the Nine with the highest trump card—the Jack—they will receive the 14 points instead.

Terts

Having three consecutive cards of the same suit, for example 8, 9, and 10 , earns you 20 points. The card suit doesn't matter, it might be Hearts, Diamonds, Spades, and Clubs.

Berts

Requires four cards of the same suit arranged sequentially, starting with the lowest-ranking card and progressing to the highest - 50 points. Example: Nine, Ten, Jack and Queen of Hearts.

Hundred

Depending on the game settings, players can achieve an optional combination of six sequential cards in the same suit. For example, Clubs 8-9-10-Jack-Queen-King—which grants 100 points.

Deberts

In some game variations, a 'Deberts' hand comprises seven consecutive cards within the same suit, constitutes an automatic win for the player. The inclusion of this special hand is determined by the game's specific rules.

3

Game Round: Bribes and Card Beading

Winning bribes and perfecting your card strategy.

“Poor” Hand and Card Redeal

If a player's initial hand totals 13 points or fewer, they have the option to request a redeal. Importantly, during this redeal, trump suits are evaluated as regular suits, not carrying any special point value. However, this redeal option is strictly limited to the initial hand distribution. Once a player has made their first move in the game, the option to redeal is no longer available.

Trump Seven Rule

In Deberts, any player holding a trump seven has the option to exchange it with the revealed trump card before the game begins. This substitution is only allowed if the game rules specify that play follows the revealed trump card. This feature offers players strategic flexibility right at the start of the game.

Bribes

Players must play a card of the chosen suit if they have one. If unable, they are required to play a trump. Should a player have neither the lead suit nor a trump card, they may play any card from their hand. The highest card played in the lead suit or the highest trump card wins the bribe. The player who wins the previous bribe gains the right to lead the next one.

Card Seniority

Deberts distinguishes itself by having different ranking systems for regular and trump suits. In non-trump suits, cards follow a seniority-based order (ascending): 7, 8, 9, Jack, Queen, King, 10, Ace. While trump suit (ascending): 7, 8, Queen, King, 10, Ace, 9, Jack.

4

Round Completion and Score Calculation

Understanding the process of concluding rounds and tallying scores.

Round Scores

After the last bribe, points from combos are counted and then the points from each individual card. Important: Combination points are only awarded if a player has won at least one bribe, even if that bribe didn't earn any points. If a player doesn't win any bribes, their combination points are forfeited.

Card Value in Points

Trump Suit

  • J
    Jack
    20 Points
  • 9
    Nine
    14 Points
  • A
    Ace
    11 Points
  • 10
    Ten
    10 Points
  • K
    King
    4 Points
  • Q
    Queen
    3 Points
  • 8
    Eight
    0 Points
  • 7
    Seven
    0 Points

Non - Trump Suit

  • A
    Ace
    11 Points
  • 10
    Ten
    10 Points
  • K
    King
    4 Points
  • Q
    Queen
    3 Points
  • J
    Jack
    2 Points
  • 9
    Nine
    0 Points
  • 8
    Eight
    0 Points
  • 7
    Seven
    0 Points

Bite Rule

Bite occurs when a player declares a suit but scores fewer points than their opponents or team, resulting in their points being added to the opponents. If both the player and their partner score equally, it's called a "Hanging Bite," where only the player who did not call trump has their points recorded, and the game continues with the highest scorer in the next hand collecting the forfeited points.