Game Rules
TarneebPartnership game from the Middle East

A partnership trick-taking game with trump bidding and planned tricks. Popular in Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine.

Players4
Duration20 – 35 Min
Deck52 Cards · 1 Deck
LevelMedium
I · Game Concept

Declare trumps,
plan tricks

I

Tarneeb is played by four players in two partner teams. A player declares the trump suit ("Tarneeb") after seeing their initial cards.

Unlike many trick-taking games, there is no fixed point target per trick – the entire team must work strategically together to win the majority of the 13 tricks.

II · Preparation

Before the
game begins

II
1
Deal cards
52 cards equally: 13 cards per player.
2
Declare Tarneeb
Players bid in turn on the number of tricks they can achieve with a certain trump suit.
3
Highest bid wins
The highest bidder determines the final trump suit for the round.
Before starting

Count your high cards and potential trump cards carefully – a realistic bid is crucial for the success of the round.

III · Card Values
How Tarneeb
works
III
T
Tarneeb
Trump
The trump suit determined by bidding beats all other suits.
7
Minimum bid
7 Tricks
The lowest valid bid is usually 7 out of 13 possible tricks.
B
Follow suit
Obligatory
If you have the requested suit, you must play it – otherwise, trump or off-suit.
13
Total tricks
Per round
13 tricks are played – the bidding team must fulfill its bid.
IV · Gameplay

Trick by
trick

IV
1
Bidding
Players bid in turn on the number of tricks with a proposed trump suit.
2
Determine trump
Highest bid determines the final trump suit.
3