Game Rules
Oh HellHit it exactly, no more

A trick-taking game based on bidding, where the number of cards changes each round. Exact bids earn points.

Players3 – 7
Duration25 – 40 Min
Deck52 Cards · 1 Deck
DifficultyMedium
I · Game Idea

Hit exactly,
not over or under

I

Oh Hell (also known as Black Out or Nomination Whist) is a bidding game: Before each round, every player bids how many tricks they will win exactly.

Unlike many trick-taking games, "at least" is not enough – only an exact match between the bid and the actual tricks won earns points.

II · Preparation

Before the
game begins

II
1
Determine number of rounds
First round: 1 card per player. Each subsequent round: one more card, up to the maximum.
2
Determine Trump
After dealing, one card is turned face up – its suit is trump for that round.
3
Bidding
In turn, each player bids how many tricks they will win exactly.
Before Starting

With few cards in hand (1-2), the bid is often clear – the real difficulty begins with 5 or more cards per player.

III · Card Values
What the bid
means
III
=
Hit Exactly
10 + Tricks
Bid and actual tricks match exactly: 10 points plus 1 point per trick.
≠
Missed
0 Points
More or fewer tricks than bid: no points for the entire round.
0
Bid Zero
Risky, but doable
Bidding 0 tricks is valid – requires consistently winning no tricks.
L
Last Player
Cannot match
The last player in the bidding round cannot make a bid that would make the total number of tricks equal the exact number of tricks available.
IV · Gameplay

Trick by
trick

IV
1
Show Trump
After dealing, turn over one card – its suit is trump for the entire round.
2
Bidding
In turn, each player bids their exact expected number of tricks.
3
Following Suit
Play the led suit if possible, otherwise trump or off-suit.
4
Count Tricks
At the end of the round: Does the number of tricks won match the bid?
5
Count Points
Hit exactly: 10 + number of tricks. Missed: 0 points. After all rounds (1 to maximum and back): highest total score wins.
V · Variants
Variants
V

Oh Hell is known worldwide under many names.

B
Black Out
British name for identical rules.
N
Nomination Whist
Traditional English name of the variant.
U
Up and Down
Number of rounds increases to maximum and then decreases again.
∅
No Trump
Variant without a trump suit – only the led suit counts.
VI · Tips & Tricks

What really
matters

VI
Strategy Tips
+

When bidding, carefully count your sure tricks – high trump cards and aces are the most reliable, everything else is a risk.

+

Observe the bids of other players – if they add up to more tricks than are available, the round becomes more unpredictable.

+

For a zero bid: consistently play your lowest cards and avoid getting involved in trick battles.

+

Adjust your strategy during the round – if you notice you're unintentionally winning too many tricks, play more defensively.

Common Mistakes
–

Overestimating your own hand and bidding for more tricks than are realistically achievable.

–

Forgetting that only the exact number counts – one trick too many is just as worthless as one too few.

–

Underestimating the last player in the bidding round – they have a limited choice, and this affects the entire round's tactics.

–

When making a zero bid, playing high cards carelessly that unexpectedly win a trick.

Berlin Hold'em · Matching Decks
Get the right deck

Oh Hell requires precise calculation – with cards that can be clearly surveyed.

View all designs →
20s Playing Cards – Double Pack For larger groups and long game nights. To Product Viking Playing Cards – Double Pack Two decks, suitable for 5+ players. To Product
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