How to Play Bisca
2 players · 40 cards · trumps · draw from the stock
Goal
Bisca is a duel of tricks. Every deal holds 120 points in cards — take more than 60 to win it.
The deal
A 40-card deck (2 to 7 plus Jack, Queen, King and Ace of each suit). Each player gets 3, 7 or 9 cards — the table chooses. The next card is turned face up under the stock: its suit is TRUMPS, and it will be the last card drawn.
Playing
The player who did not deal leads first; after that, whoever won the last trick. The higher card of the suit led wins, unless a trump is played. While there are cards in the stock you may play any card — there is no need to follow suit. After each trick the winner draws first, then the other player.
When the stock runs out
From then on the second card of a trick must follow suit. If you cannot follow, you must play a trump if you have one (if the table plays that rule).
The 2 of trumps
On your turn, if you hold the 2 of trumps, you may swap it for the face-up trump card while there are still cards to draw, if the table allows it.
Card values
The order (strongest to weakest) is Ace, 7, King, Jack, Queen, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. Only five cards score — 120 in all:
- 11 — Ace
- 10 — 7
- 4 — King
- 3 — Jack
- 2 — Queen
Scoring
A deal is worth 1 point for 61–90, 2 points for 91–119 and 4 for all 120 (a capote). 60–60 scores nothing. The first player to 10 points wins the match.