PREFERANS



OBJECT OF PREFERANS: The objective of Preferans is to be the player with the most points at the end of the game.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 3 or More Players

MATERIALS: 1 52 Card Deck and Scoring Chips

TYPE OF GAME: Trick Taking Card Game

AUDIENCE: Adults


OVERVIEW OF PREFERANS

Preferans is a trick taking game that is played with thirty two total cards. It is popular throughout varying parts of Russia, but its popularity has spread throughout the world. It does have some more rules than the typical trick taking game, but with a little bit of practice, it is just as fun and competitive!

SETUP

The dealer will begin by shuffling the deck and dealing 10 cards to each player. The dealer will take two cards and place them face down in the center of the table. The game is ready to begin!

GAMEPLAY

To begin gameplay the stakes must be decided. It must be determined how many chips go into the pot, how many chips will be paid to the winner, and how many will be paid into the pot if the bidder loses. Once this is determined, bidding can begin.

Bidding only earns you the right to name the trump suit. The player to the left of the dealer will begin the bidding. Players may choose to either pass or bid. A player will bid the suit that they would like to use as the trump suit. Players bid only once, and any following bid must be higher than the last.

In the extra round of bidding, players may pass or place extra chips in the pool. The player with the most chips wins the bid and determines the trump suit. The winner then has the option to discard two cards and draw up the two cards that were left in the center.

The player on the left of the bidder leads the first trick. The next player must try to follow suit is they are able. If not, they may either trump or discard. The highest scoring trump or the highest card of the leading suit wins the trick.

When all ten of the tricks are finished, the players will tally their scores. If the bidder accomplished his bid of taking more than six tricks, they receive the predetermined amount of chips from the pot. If the player does not meet their bid, they must place chips into the pot.

END OF GAME

The game comes to an end when ten tricks have been played. At the end of the game, all players will tally their scores. The player with the most points wins the game.

Nakoa Davis