طرنيب Tarneeb

In the Arab countries, particularly in the Levant, Tarneeb is a popular card game known for its engaging gameplay. Referred to as "rule" in the Arab Gulf states, the primary goal of Tarneeb is to secure consecutive wins in rounds, known as "Tarneeb groups." The game is played with four players, divided into two teams of two, where partners sit opposite each other. The competition continues through rounds until one team emerges as the overall winner.

Tarneeb uses a standard 52-card deck, excluding Jokers. The game begins with the dealer distributing cards to the right, starting the bidding process with the player to their left. Each round involves four players, with the bidding starting from 7 and going up to 13, known as "Cabot" or "livers." Bidding proceeds in a clockwise direction, beginning with the player to the right of the dealer. The highest bidder gets to choose the Tarneeb suit.

If a team fails to meet their bid, they face a penalty. For instance, if a team bids for 10 tricks but only secures 9, they lose points equivalent to the difference (1 point in this case), while the opposing team gains points for the tricks they won, such as 4 points in this example. If the opposing team wins 5 tricks, any discrepancies in the bidding are exposed, leading to a deduction in points.

The game concludes when one of the teams reaches a predetermined score, either 61 or 31 points, depending on the agreement made before the start of the game.

The card hierarchy in Tarneeb is as follows, from highest to lowest:

• A (Cut)
• K (Sheikh)
• Q (girl)
• J (born)
• Then descending from 10 to 2.