Twenty-Nine
Classic South Asian 32-card trick game with concealed trumps, high-value Jacks and Nines, and 29 total points.
How to play
4 players in 2 fixed partnerships (Seats 1 & 3 vs Seats 2 & 4). 32 cards: J, 9, A, 10, K, Q, 8, 7 in each suit.
Card values: Jack = 3 pts, Nine = 2 pts, Ace = 1 pt, Ten = 1 pt. Winning the 8th trick awards 1 bonus point (29 total points).
Bidding auction starts at 16 up to 28. High bidder chooses the trump suit in secret.
Trump remains concealed until a player void in the led suit asks to reveal it. Once revealed, trumps have full power.
Holding both King and Queen of trump allows declaring a Pair, shifting the bid target by 4 points.
About Twenty-Nine
Twenty-Nine (29) is a legendary South Asian trick-taking card game of the Jass and Belote lineage, played by four players in two fixed partnerships with a 32-card deck. Jacks and Nines reign supreme with elevated point values, and the high bidder sets a secret trump suit that remains hidden until a player void in the led suit asks to reveal it. Bidders contest an auction from 16 to 28, score card points toward their contract, declare royal Pairs of King and Queen of trump to alter targets by 4 points, and battle to claim the decisive 29th last-trick point.
Twenty-Nine at a glance
| Players | 4 players |
|---|---|
| Type | Table game: play online with friends, or with bots in any seat |
| Family | Trick-taking |
| Bot levels | Easy, medium and hard |
| Options | Target Points: 6 or 4 or 10 |
| Turn timer (online) | 30 seconds |
| Cost | Free, no download |
Tips for Twenty-Nine
- Value your Jacks and Nines heavily during the auction: Jacks are worth 3 points and Nines are worth 2 points, accounting for over 70% of the deck's total 28 card points.
- Guard the concealed trump: keeping trump hidden prevents opponents from playing trumps, allowing your partnership to capture tricks with side honors.
- Declare the royal Pair (King and Queen of trump) once trump is revealed to reduce your bidding target by 4 points or push your opponents' target higher.
Questions about Twenty-Nine
How many people can play Twenty-Nine?
Twenty-Nine is played by exactly 4 players. Real players and bots can share a table, so a game can always start even if you do not have enough people.
Can I play Twenty-Nine against the computer?
Yes. Pick easy, medium or hard bots and start straight away. Bots only use what a player in their seat could see, so they cannot peek at your cards.
Can I play Twenty-Nine online with friends?
Yes. Create a private room and share its code, or join a quick match. If someone drops out mid-game, a bot takes over their seat.
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