Shnarbles

Shnarbles is a trick-taking card game, in which individual players attempt to make tricks in order to win the game. Before play begins, players are allotted 16 points each. The object of Shnarbles is to attain a score of zero. Points are lowered for each trick that a player makes during a hand. Players are allotted points when they fail to make tricks or fail to meet the amount of tricks bid. A player who reaches 32 points is removed from play.
Game Terms
:Trick - A unit of play in which each player lays one card from their hand, and is "taken" or won by the player who laid down the highest-value card.
:Hand - A series of tricks in which all cards dealt to each player are played.
:Bid - The number of tricks each player will take during a hand, announced by each player in term before a hand begins. The winning bidder decides trump before play begins.
:Fold - When a player chooses to forfeit their hand before play.
:(to) Follow Suit - to play a card of the same suit as the first card played to a trick. As in many trick-taking games, Shnarbles players are required to follow suit if they are able.
:Trump - a suit of cards in the deck that is of higher value than all others. The term also refers to the playing of a trump card. In Shnarbles, trump is decided by the winning bidder of each hand before play.
:Spade-out - When a player calls spades as trump and takes all five tricks, the player automatically wins the game, regardless of how many points they have. This is called "spading-out".
:(to) Renege (re-nig) - When a player can follow suit but does not, it is considered cheating and is often penalized with three books awarded to the apposing team
Basic Game Play
Number of Players: Two or more; the game is most commonly played with four players.
The Deck: Standard 52 card deck.
Scorecard: A scorecard (or sheet) is recommended during play to keep track of individuals' scores after each hand.
Rank of cards (descending): Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.
Object of the game: Attain a score of zero. Players are allotted 16 points at the beginning of the game. Each trick won is a negative point, thus lowering your overall score. Players are allotted 5 points when they fail to win a trick during a hand, or when the winning bidder fails to win the amount of tricks bid. If a player reaches a score of 32, they are removed from the game. Players can also win by spading-out.
Game Play Mechanics
The Deal
The first dealer is chosen by a draw for high card, and thereafter the deal passes to the dealer's left after each hand. The dealer deals five cards to each player. The remainder of the deck is out of play.
Bidding
Starting with the player to the left of the dealer and continuing clockwise, players bid on how many tricks they think they can take in the upcoming hand, based on the hand they hold. If a player wishes to bid an amount that has already been bid by another player, they must call 'pass'. Players can, if they choose, open with a 'pass'. If all players pass, there is a re-deal using the same dealer. Bids do not continue after the dealer has bid (or passed). For example, if the first player bids 1 trick and so on until the dealer bids 4 tricks, the first player does not get a chance to re-bid 5 tricks.
Choosing Trump & Play
The highest bidder chooses which suit will be trump. When trump is decided, all other players decide if they want to play their hands or fold. If all players fold, the winning bidder automatically wins all five tricks, reducing his score by 5. If the winning bidder calls spades as trump, all players must play their hands. Players are not allowed to fold three times in a row; after two folds in a row the player must play their next hand.
If at least one player decides to go up against the winning bidder, play begins. The winning bidder leads the first card, and play continues clockwise, each player trying to beat the highest-valued card in order to win the trick. The winner of each trick leads the next card until all players' hands are exhausted. At the end of the hand, points are tallied and scores are altered accordingly.

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See Also

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