Twenty-Nine
Classic South Asian partnership trick-taking game. High honors J-9-A-10, secret trump and pair declarations.
How to play
Four players in two partnerships (North-South vs East-West) using a 32-card deck (J, 9, A, 10, K, Q, 8, 7).
Card points: Jacks = 3, Nines = 2, Aces = 1, Tens = 1. Remaining cards = 0. Last trick = 1 point. Total 29 points.
Players bid from 16 to 28 based on first 4 cards. Highest bidder chooses secret trump, then 4 more cards are dealt.
Trump remains concealed until a player who cannot follow suit asks to reveal it.
Holding King and Queen of trump allows declaring a Pair (Roy), modifying target points by 4.
About Twenty-Nine
Twenty-Nine is a classic South Asian trick-taking game played by four players in two fixed partnerships with a 32-card deck consisting of 7s through Aces. Card values are unique and non-standard: Jacks are worth 3 points each, Nines are worth 2, Aces 1, Tens 1, while Kings, Queens, 8s, and 7s carry zero points. With 28 card points plus 1 point awarded to the winner of the final trick, exactly 29 points are available each hand. Bidding starts at 16 based on an initial four-card deal; the highest bidder chooses a secret trump suit that remains hidden until a void player asks to reveal it. Declaring a Royal Pair (holding King and Queen of trump) shifts the contract by 4 points.
Twenty-Nine at a glance
| Players | 4 players |
|---|---|
| Type | Table game: play online with friends, or with bots in any seat |
| Family | Trick-taking |
| Bot levels | Easy, medium and hard |
| Options | Target Points: 6 or 3 or 10 |
| Turn timer (online) | 30 seconds |
| Cost | Free, no download |
Tips for Twenty-Nine
- Bid conservatively on your first four cards: count your Jacks (3 points) and Nines (2 points), and ensure you have at least two or three cards in your intended trump suit.
- Keep the trump suit concealed until a trick contains significant point cards or your partner needs trump power to secure the trick.
- If you hold the King and Queen of the trump suit, declaring a Pair at the right moment can give your team a decisive 4-point contract swing.
Questions about Twenty-Nine
How many people can play Twenty-Nine?
Twenty-Nine is played by exactly 4 players. Real players and bots can share a table, so a game can always start even if you do not have enough people.
Can I play Twenty-Nine against the computer?
Yes. Pick easy, medium or hard bots and start straight away. Bots only use what a player in their seat could see, so they cannot peek at your cards.
Can I play Twenty-Nine online with friends?
Yes. Create a private room and share its code, or join a quick match. If someone drops out mid-game, a bot takes over their seat.
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