طرنيب Tarneeb

Tarneeb, known as "rule" in the Arab Gulf states, is a popular card game in Arab countries, particularly in the Levant region. The game is played with a standard deck of 52 cards, without jokers, and involves four players divided into two teams of two. The primary objective of Tarneeb is to win consecutive rounds, known as "Tarneeb groups," until one team reaches the agreed-upon score, typically 61 or 31 points.

The gameplay begins with the dealer distributing the cards clockwise, starting from the player to their right. Bidding, or "demanding," starts with the player to the left of the dealer and proceeds in a clockwise direction. Players can bid from 7 up to 13, also known as "Cabot" or "livers." The highest bidder gets to choose the Tarneeb suit, which becomes the trump suit for that round.

During play, if a team fails to meet their bid, they lose points equivalent to the difference between their bid and the number of tricks won. For example, if a team bids 10 but only wins 9 tricks, they lose 1 point, while the opposing team gains points for the tricks they won, such as 4 points in this scenario. If the opposing team wins 5 tricks, any discrepancies are revealed and adjusted accordingly.

The card hierarchy in Tarneeb is as follows: Ace (Cut), King (Sheikh), Queen (girl), Jack (born), and then descending from 10 to 2. This ranking is crucial for determining the winner of each trick played during the game.

Tarneeb is not just a game of chance but also of strategy, making it a beloved pastime across the Arab world, offering both entertainment and a competitive edge to its players.