Instructions Bézique

Objective of the Game

The objective of Bézique is to score as many points as possible by forming specific card combinations known as melds and by winning tricks.

Number of Players

Bézique is typically played by two players.

Cards and Setup

• Number of Cards: It is played with two decks of 32 cards each, totaling 64 cards (8 Aces, 8 Kings, 8 Queens, 8 Jacks, 8 Tens, 8 Nines, 8 Eights, and 8 Sevens).
• Card Ranking in Tricks: In descending order: Ace, Ten, King, Queen, Jack, Nine, Eight, Seven.
• The cards are shuffled, and each player receives nine cards. The remaining cards form the talon (draw pile).

Gameplay

1. Determining the Trump Suit: The top card of the talon is turned face up. Its suit determines the trump suit.
2. Playing Tricks: The non-dealer leads the first card, and the other player must play one of their cards in response.
3. There is no obligation to follow suit, meaning players do not have to match the suit led and are not required to trump.
4. Trump cards can be played to win a trick if desired.
5. Melding: After each trick, the player who won the trick may declare card combinations known as melds.

6. Melds include combinations like:

   • Bézique: Queen of Spades and Jack of Diamonds (40 points)
   • Double Bézique: Two Béziques (500 points)
   • King and Queen of the same suit (20 points, 40 points if in trump)
   • Four Aces/Kings/Queens/Jacks (100/80/60/40 points)

7. Drawing Cards: After each trick, both players draw a card from the talon, starting with the player who won the trick.

8. Final Phase: Once the talon is exhausted, the rules slightly change. There is a requirement to follow suit, meaning players must play the same suit if possible and must win the trick if they can.
9. Scoring: Players tally up the points from their melds and the card points from tricks won (Ace=11, Ten=10, King=4, Queen=3, Jack=2 points).
10. Ending the Game: The game ends when a player reaches or exceeds a predetermined score. In competitions, 1000 or 1500 points are often used as the goal.

Strategies and Nuances

• Prioritize Melds: Look for opportunities to make valuable melds before the talon is exhausted.
• Card Counting: Keep track of which cards have been played to gain strategic advantages when selecting cards for tricks, especially in the final phase.
• Trump Usage: Save trump cards for crucial tricks, especially in the last phase when following and winning tricks is required.
• Hand Bézique Attempts: Attempting to make a Double Bézique can be crucial for gaining a significant point lead.