Muushig

Muushig () is a Mongolian card game for two to five players.

The deck contains 32 cards, including eight ranks running from seven to ten, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace.

The Rules

The deal

Dealing is done clockwise.

A player is chosen to deal. That person takes all of the cards in the pack, arranges them so that they are in a uniform stack, and shuffles them. During the shuffle, the dealer holds the cards so that he or she and the other players cannot see any of their FACES.

After the shuffle, the dealer sometimes offers the deck to another player to cut the deck. This is the player to the dealer's right. The invitation to cut is made by placing the pack, face downward, on the table near the player who is to cut: who then lifts the upper portion of the pack clear of the lower portion and places it alongside. The formerly lower portion is then replaced on top of the formerly upper portion. Should the player to cut wish to so indicate, a rap by the knuckles on top of the deck, signifies he trusts it to have been fairly shuffled, and that the cards are to be dealt from an uncut deck.

The dealer then deals the cards (five to each player). This is done by dealer holding the pack, face down, in one hand, and removing cards from the top of it with his or her other hand to distribute to the players, placing them face down on the table in front of the players to whom they are dealt. The rules of the game will specify the details of the deal. It normally starts with the player next to the dealer in the direction of play and continues in the same direction around the table. The cards May Be dealt one at a time, or in groups.

The undealt cards, if any, are left face down in the middle of the table, forming the STOCK. The topmost card of the undealt cards is exposed and determines the trump suit.

Throughout the shuffle, cut, and deal, the dealer should PReVENT the players from seeing the faces of any of the cards. The players should not try to see any of the faces. Should a player accidentally see a card, other than one's own, proper etiquette would be to admit this. It is also dishonest to try to see cards as they are dealt, or to take advantage of having seen a card. Should a card accidentally become exposed, (visible to all), then, normally, any player can demand a redeal (all the cards are gathered up, and the shuffle, cut, and deal are repeated).

When the deal is complete, all players pick up their cards, or 'hand', and hold them in such a way that the faces can be seen by the holder of the cards but not the other players. It is helpful to fan one's cards out so that if they have corner indices all their values can be seen at once.

After the dealing, each player can replace up to 5 cards previously dealt by the cards from the stock. But if the stock runs out, the remaining players will have to play with their originally dealt cards.

Playing

Each player will start from 15 points and the first player to reduce his/her points to zero wins. Preferably, an independent scorer should record the scores.

After the first player plays a card, the other players have to play a card that is of the same suit and either higher as the present card or trump. Only if such a card is not available, a player may play another card. The player who has played the highest card gets the trick.

The game is played in a series of matches. If the number of players is 5, then the main series of game shall be played 5 times plus additional series of "boolt" which is first dealt by the person who did not win a single game in the main series. For example: if there are two players who did not win a single game, then 2 boolt series shall be played. The stakes will be higher (usually twice) than the stakes in the main series in "boolt" games.

Each player is expected to take at least one trick in each match. If he/she fails to do so, then his/her points will increase by 5. To prevent this, a player can resign before the round begins. If he/she succeeds to do so, then his/her points will be reduced by the number of tricks he/she took.

The tricks are formed by accumulating the cards of the opponents. The ranks of the cards are as follows: Ace (the highest), King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8 and 7. The trump suit prevails over all other suits.

References

• The Rules and PC Version of Mongolian Card Game of Muushig. Jargal, T.: Muushig hözriin togloom. Computer Times, 2009-05-28.
• The Mobile Version of Muushig

mn:Муушиг