Barbu Card Game: Rules, Strategies, and Tips

History of Barbu Card Game

Barbu is a trick-taking card game that originated in France in the early 20th century. It was especially popular with university students and later became a prominent game among French bridge players in the 1960s. The game is also known as Tafferan and is similar to the game of Hearts.

The original version of the game was played with a stripped deck of 32 cards, ranked seven to ace in each suit. However, modern versions of the game are played with the standard 52-card deck. Barbu is a four-player game, and each player takes turns leading seven different sub-games over the course of 28 deals.

The game is said to have originated during the Austro-Hungarian Empire, where it was known as Königrufen. The game was later modified in France, where it gained popularity among university students. The game was particularly popular because of its complex rules, which required players to think strategically and make careful decisions.

Barbu became a popular game among French bridge players in the 1960s, and it is still played today in various forms. The game has also spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, where it is played in some card clubs and casinos.

Overall, Barbu is a fascinating and challenging card game that requires skill, strategy, and luck. Whether you are a seasoned player or a beginner, Barbu is a game that is sure to provide hours of entertainment and excitement.

The Deck and Cards

In Barbu, you will use a standard 52-card deck, which consists of four suits: hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades. Each suit has 13 cards, including an ace, king, queen, jack, and ten through two. The cards are ranked seven to ace, with seven being the lowest and ace being the highest.

The deck is shuffled and dealt out to the players, with each player receiving 13 cards. The dealer rotates after every round for 28 rounds. At the beginning of each round, the dealer selects which contract will be played for the round.

The cards are used to play seven different sub-games, known as contracts, over the course of 28 deals. Each contract has its own set of rules and objectives, which makes Barbu a challenging and exciting game to play.

Knowing the card ranking is crucial to winning at Barbu. The ace is the highest-ranking card, followed by the king, queen, jack, and so on. It’s important to keep track of which cards have been played and which are still in the deck, so you can make informed decisions about which cards to play and when.

In summary, Barbu is played with a standard 52-card deck, with each suit consisting of 13 cards. The cards are ranked seven to ace, with ace being the highest. The deck is shuffled and dealt out to the players, with each player receiving 13 cards. Understanding the card ranking is essential to playing and winning at Barbu.

The Players

In Barbu, the game is played with four players. Each player is dealt a hand of cards and takes turns leading different sub-games known as contracts. The dealer is determined at the beginning of the game, and the player to the left of the dealer leads the first contract.

Throughout the game, each player will take turns being the dealer, and the player to their left will lead the first contract for that round. This rotation ensures that each player has an equal opportunity to lead contracts and be the dealer.

It’s important to note that in Barbu, all players are equal. There is no designated “winner” or “loser” in the game, as the goal is to score as few points as possible. Each player has an equal chance to lead contracts and win tricks, making the game a fair and balanced competition.

As a player in Barbu, it’s crucial to pay attention to the cards that have been played and the contracts that have been led. This information can help you determine which cards to play and which contracts to lead in future rounds.

Overall, Barbu is a game that requires strategic thinking, skill, and a bit of luck. With four players working together to lead contracts and win tricks, the game is both challenging and enjoyable for all involved.

Gameplay Basics

Barbu is a trick-taking card game that is played with a standard deck of 52 cards. The game is typically played by four players, but it can also be played by three or five players. In Barbu, the objective is to win the most tricks and avoid certain cards that carry negative points. The game consists of seven contracts, each with its own set of rules and objectives.

At the beginning of each contract, the starting card is determined by the dealer. The player who holds the starting card leads the first trick, and the other players must follow suit if possible. The player who wins the trick leads the next one, and so on until all the cards have been played.

One of the most important aspects of Barbu is passing cards. Before each contract, players pass a certain number of cards to their opponents. The number of cards and the direction of the pass vary depending on the contract. Passing cards strategically can greatly improve your chances of winning the game.

In Barbu, there are four suits, and the cards are ranked from highest to lowest: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. The King of Hearts is a special card that carries negative points, so players try to avoid winning this card. The Queen of Spades is also a negative card in some contracts.

Overall, Barbu is a challenging and strategic card game that requires skill and careful planning. By mastering the various contracts and learning how to pass cards effectively, you can increase your chances of winning and become a skilled Barbu player.

Contracts in Barbu

In Barbu, there are seven different contracts that players must take turns leading over the course of 28 deals. Each player must play each contract once. Of the seven contracts, there are five negative and two positive contracts.

Negative Contracts

The negative contracts in Barbu have no trumps. The declarer leads in the first trick, and players must follow suit if they can. If a player cannot follow suit, they may play any card in hand. The five negative contracts are:

• No Hearts: Players cannot play any heart cards.
• No Queens: Players cannot play any queen cards.
• No Last Two: Players cannot win the last two tricks.
• No Tricks: Players cannot win any tricks.
• No Trumps: Players cannot play any trump cards.

Positive Contracts

The two positive contracts in Barbu have trumps. The declarer leads in the first trick, and players must follow suit if they can. If a player cannot follow suit, they may play any card in hand. The two positive contracts are:

• King of Hearts: The player who wins the trick with the king of hearts scores a point.
• Barbu: The player who wins the last trick scores a point, and the player who wins the king of hearts scores an additional point.

It is worth noting that no contract is repeated until all seven have been played.

Scoring and Points

In Barbu, the objective is to score as few points as possible. The player with the lowest score at the end of the game wins. Each contract has its own unique scoring system, and the total score is the sum of all the points accumulated during each contract.

The seven contracts in Barbu are No Tricks, No Hearts, No Queens, No Last Two, No King of Hearts, No Tricks or Hearts, and Barbu. Each contract has a different scoring system, and each player must play each contract once.

In No Tricks, players score -2 points for each trick they win, resulting in a total score of -26. In No Hearts, players score -6 points for taking the Ace of Hearts and -2 points for each other Heart card they take, resulting in a total score of -30.

In No Queens, players score -13 points for taking any Queen card, resulting in a total score of -52. In No Last Two, players score -10 points for taking the last two tricks, resulting in a total score of -40.

In No King of Hearts, players score -10 points for taking the King of Hearts, resulting in a total score of -40. In No Tricks or Hearts, players score -5 points for each trick or Heart card they take, resulting in a total score of -65.

Finally, in Barbu, players score points based on the order in which they finish. The first player out scores 0 points, the second player out scores 10 points, the third player out scores 20 points, and the last player out scores 30 points. The total score for Barbu is the sum of all the points scored by each player.

The player with the lowest total score at the end of the game is the winner. In case of a tie, the player with the lowest score difference (total score minus the average score of all players) wins.

Special Rules and Variations

Barbu is a game that allows for a variety of special rules and variations to make the game more interesting. Here are some of the most common ones:

• Doubling: Doubling is a popular variation in Barbu where players can choose to double the score for a particular hand. This can be done before the hand is played, and the score is then doubled for the winning player. If the losing player had doubled, they would have lost twice as many points.
• Redouble: Redoubling is a further variation on doubling, where the losing player can choose to redouble the score. This means that if they win the hand, they will receive four times the original score. However, if they lose, they will lose four times the original score.
• Nullo: Nullo is a variation where players can choose to play a hand with no trump suit. This means that no suit is designated as trump, and players must follow suit if possible. If they cannot follow suit, they can play any card.
• Fantan: Fantan is a variation where players must play cards in sequence, starting with the lowest card. For example, if the first card played is a 2 of spades, the next player must play a 3 of spades, then a 4 of spades, and so on. If a player cannot play a card in sequence, they must pass.
• Lorum: Lorum is a variation where players must play the same card they played on the previous hand. This means that if a player played a 7 of hearts on the previous hand, they must play a 7 of hearts on the next hand. If they cannot play the same card, they must pass.
• Quodlibet: Quodlibet is a variation where players can choose the trump suit for a particular hand. This means that the player who wins the bid can choose any suit to be the trump suit. This can make the game more unpredictable and exciting.
• Domino: Domino is a variation where players must play cards in pairs. This means that they must play two cards of the same rank and suit at the same time. If they cannot play a pair, they must pass.
• Tafferan: Tafferan is a variation where players must play a card that is one rank higher or lower than the previous card played. For example, if the first card played is a 7 of hearts, the next player must play a 6 or 8 of hearts. If they cannot play a card that is one rank higher or lower, they must pass.

These special rules and variations can add a new level of complexity and excitement to the game of Barbu. However, it is important to agree on the rules before the game begins to avoid confusion and disagreements during play.

Strategies in Barbu

Barbu is a card game that requires both skill and strategy to win. Here are some strategies that you can use to improve your chances of winning:

Understanding Trumps

In Barbu, each round has a trump suit that is determined by the dealer. The trump suit is important because it can beat any other suit, including the lead suit. Therefore, it’s important to keep track of which cards have been played and which suits are still in play. If you have a strong trump card, it’s often a good idea to save it for later in the round when it can have the most impact.

Bearded and Last Two

Two of the most important contracts in Barbu are the Bearded and Last Two contracts. In the Bearded contract, players try to avoid taking any cards with beards (i.e., face cards). In the Last Two contract, players try to avoid taking the last two tricks. These contracts require different strategies, so it’s important to adjust your play style accordingly.

Hours

The Hours contract is another important contract in Barbu. In this contract, players try to take as many cards as possible without taking any hearts. To win this contract, you need to be able to keep track of which cards have been played and which suits are still in play. It’s also important to have a good sense of timing and to know when to play your strongest cards.

Special Significance

Some cards in Barbu have special significance. For example, the Queen of Spades is worth a lot of points, so you should try to avoid taking it if possible. The Ace of Hearts is also worth points, so you should be careful when playing it. Knowing which cards have special significance can help you make better decisions during the game.

Following the Rules of Barbu

Finally, it’s important to follow the rules of Barbu. For example, you should always lead with the lowest card of the lead suit, unless you have a trump card. You should also try to avoid taking tricks that you don’t need to win a contract. Following the rules of Barbu can help you avoid penalties and improve your chances of winning.

Compendium Card Games

Compendium card games are a family of trick-taking card games that share some common features. These games typically involve multiple sub-games, known as contracts, that are played over the course of several rounds. Each contract has its own unique rules and objectives, and players must adapt their strategy accordingly.

One of the most popular compendium card games is Barbu, also known as Tafferan. In Barbu, four players take turns leading seven different sub-games over the course of 28 deals. Each sub-game has its own unique rules and objectives, such as avoiding certain cards or taking specific tricks.

Other popular compendium card games include Canadian Salad, which has 12 sub-games, and Bourré, which is played with a standard deck of cards and involves bluffing and bidding.

Compendium card games are popular among players who enjoy the strategic challenges of trick-taking games, as well as the variety and unpredictability that comes with playing multiple sub-games. They are often played in social settings, such as at parties or in college dormitories.

If you are interested in trying out a compendium card game, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the rules and objectives of each sub-game. You can find detailed instructions and strategies for each game online or in specialized card game books. With practice and experience, you can become a skilled compendium card game player and enjoy the many challenges and rewards of this exciting card game genre.