How to Play the Card Game Turf

Turf differs from other trick-taking games because players bid silently by using a card from their hands to indicate not only the number of tricks they believe they can take, but also the trump in which they’d like to call. The highest bid wins trump. But that’s not the only factor that sets this game apart from the rest. When trump is played, the card is laid face down on the trick and its value is not revealed until all players have played. Turf can be played with 4 players of any skill level.

Things You'll Need

• Deck of cards

Instructions

1. Deal out the deck until each player has a total of 13 cards in his hand. (Deal out all cards in the deck.)

2. Bid the number of tricks you believe you will take for the round by removing a card from your hand of the suit in which you’d like to call trump and place it face down on the table in front of you. Aces signify a bid of 1, 2s signify a bid of 2, 3s signify a bid of 3 and so on up to 10s denoting a bid of 10 tricks. Choosing a face card means you’ll take no tricks during the round.

3. Reveal your bid cards. Highest bid wins trump.

4. Add up the total number of bids between the players. When the total bids equal 13, bids are all raised or reduced by 1 (winning bidder decides the fate). Each player must get exactly that new bid amount—it may end up where it is impossible for a player to get their bid.

5. Place the bid card back in your hand and ready for play.

6. Lay a card, starting with the player of the highest bid. Follow suit when possible. Highest card takes the trick. If you are unable to follow suit, you have two options—throw off or play trump, but trump is played face down on the trick and isn’t revealed until all cards have been laid on the trick. Highest trump card takes the trick. In both scenarios, the winner of that trick leads the next card for the next trick.

7. Tally up the tricks. If you’ve taken at least the number of tricks bid, earn 1 point for each trick. If not, earn nothing for the round.

8. Win Turf by being the first person to go over 25 points.

Tips & Warnings

• To determine the order of play, deal out the cards face up until one player is dealt a jack. This player acts as the first dealer. Play moves to his left in a clockwise direction around the table. Subsequent deals move to the player with the lowest score in the prior hand.