SHNARPS

Learn to play

The goal

Everyone starts on 16. First to 0 wins. Reach 33 and you're out.

Bidding

Each round you bid the minimum number of tricks you think you'll take, or pass. Every new bid must beat the current high bid.

Trump

The high bidder picks the trump suit. Trump beats every other suit; the highest trump wins the trick.

Follow suit

You must follow the suit that was led if you hold it. Otherwise play anything. Cards you can't legally play are dimmed.

Scoring

Every trick you win takes a point off your score. Fewer points is better.

Make your bid

The high bidder must take at least their bid. Miss it and you're PUNTED — you gain your bid in points instead of scoring tricks.

Active players

Any non-bidder who plays must take at least one trick. Zero tricks means PUNTED — plus 5 points.

Sitting out

You can sit out at most 2 rounds in a row. Sitting out on 3 points or less adds 1 point.

Left alone

If everyone sits out, the high bidder either punts the table or takes -5 points.

Spades

If spades are trump, everyone must play — no sit-outs.

Spade Out

Sweep all five tricks in a spades round and you win the entire game instantly.

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