Bézique

Goal: Be the first to 1000 points over several deals. You pile up points by laying down scoring combinations ("melds") and by winning Aces and Tens in tricks. Played with a 64-card double deck (two of every 7-to-Ace card); you each hold 8 cards and the turned-up card sets "trump".

Tricks: a trick is one exchange — you lead a card, your opponent plays one back, and the higher card wins both. A trump beats any other suit; otherwise the higher card of the suit that was LED wins (order: A, 10, K, Q, J, 9, 8, 7). While cards remain in the deck you can play anything, and after each trick you both draw a card (winner first).

Melds — your main points: each time you WIN a trick while the deck lasts, you may lay down one combination from your hand (the cards stay in your hand to play later):

• Seven of trumps → 10

• Marriage — King + Queen of a suit → 20 (40 in trumps)

• Bézique — Q♠ + J♦ → 40

• Four Aces → 100 · four Kings → 80 · four Queens → 60 · four Jacks → 40

• Trump sequence A-10-K-Q-J → 250

Endgame: once the deck is empty, no more melds — you must follow the led suit and beat the card if you can (or trump if you can't follow).

End of the deal: the last trick is worth 10, and every Ace and Ten in the tricks you won is worth 10 each.