Setup
- Deck: Standard 52-card deck
- Players: Six players, divided into two teams of three
Deck Preparation:
- Removed Cards: 10s, 9s, 8s, 2s, and Jokers
- Playing Cards: 36 remaining cards (A, K, Q, J, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 in all four suits)
- Outside Cards: The removed cards are split into two piles, one for each team. Team A receives all red suit cards, and Team B receives all black suit cards.
Dealing the Cards
- Initial Deal: Starting with the player to the dealer's right, each player receives three cards.
- Dealer's Teammate: The dealer's teammate, sitting opposite, receives four cards. One of these cards is placed face-up on the table, establishing the trump suit for that round. This face-up card is also used by the dealer's teammate on the last turn of the hand.
Card Hierarchy
- Highest to Lowest: A, 7, K, J, Q, 6, 5, 4, 3
- Trump Suit: The trump suit outranks all other suits.
Gameplay
- Starting Player: The player to the dealer's right initiates the first trick.
- Card Play: Players can play any card from their hand; following suit is not mandatory.
- Winning the Trick:
- The highest trump card wins the trick.
- If no trump is played, the highest card of the lead suit wins.
- Drawing Cards: After each trick, players draw a new card from the central pile.
- Next Trick: The winner of the previous trick leads the next one.
- Round Conclusion: The round ends when all cards have been played, either from players' hands or the central pile.
- Scoring: Scores are calculated after each hand, and the game continues for a predetermined number of hands or until a specific score is reached.
Special Scenarios
- Kaba (كابا): The game concludes immediately if one team captures all eight 'amwal' cards (likely high-ranking cards), and the opposing team's score is 10 or lower.
- Bayta (بايتة): If both teams acquire the same number of 'amwal' cards and have identical scores, the next round's score is doubled, increasing the stakes!