Instructions Piquet

Objective of the Game:

Piquet is a traditional card game for two players, requiring tactical skill and strategic thinking. The objective is to score more points than your opponent over several rounds.

Game Materials

• A French deck with 32 cards (all cards from six to ace).
• Paper and pencil for scoring.

Number of Players

• Exactly 2 players.

Game Category

• Strategy, Trick-Taking

Setup

Initially, the non-dealing player shuffles the deck, and the dealer distributes twelve cards to each player in pairs. The remaining eight cards form a Talon (opportunity deck).

Gameplay

The game is divided into 3 phases: Discarding, Declarations, and Trick Play.

1. Discarding

The Non-dealer may first discard up to five cards and draw replacements from the Talon. The Dealer then follows with the same opportunity. The Talon is a resource both players use to improve their hands.

2. Declarations

1. Sequences (Séquences): Players reveal the longest runs of the same suit they hold, which have at least 3 cards, e.g., 7-8-9. The winner scores points equivalent to the card count of their sequences.
2. Sets: Players reveal sets of equal ranks, such as three or four of a kind. Points are earned here as well.
3. Capot (full play): If a player does not win any card in the trick phase, the opponent gets a bonus.

3. Trick Play

Players alternately play cards from their hands. The goal is to win as many tricks as possible. The player with the highest card in the played suit wins the trick. There is no Trump suit.

Scoring

• Sequences: 3 cards: 3 points, 4 cards: 4 points, and so on.
• Sets: 3 of a kind: 3 points, 4 of a kind: 4 points.
• Tricks: Each won trick scores 1 point.
• Piquet (game-ending condition): Achieving a lead of 30 or more in one round earns an extra 30 points (a Re-Piquet).

End of the Game

The game ends when all phases are completed and both players have tallied their points. Usually, several rounds are played until someone reaches a total of 1000 points or after a predetermined number of games, wherein the player with the most points wins.

Strategic Tips

• Optimal use of the Talon: Try to maximize the probability of drawing useful cards from the Talon.
• Bluff during the Declaration phase: Avoid revealing too much about your hand unless it gives you a clear advantage.
• Calculating the opponent's hand: Keep an eye on your opponent’s sequences to infer their strategic approach.