Blackjack, or Tarneeb Blackjack, is a popular card game prevalent throughout Arab nations, particularly in the Levant region. It's also known as "Rule" in the Arab Gulf states. The goal is to win consecutive Tarneeb rounds. Four players participate, forming two teams of two. Teams remain unchanged throughout the game, with the winning team determined at the conclusion of all rounds.
The game utilizes a standard 52-card deck (no Jokers). Play proceeds clockwise, beginning with the player to the dealer's left. The four players are divided into two partnerships.
Cards are dealt clockwise, starting from the dealer's right.
Bidding: Bidding begins with a minimum of 7, ascending to 13 ("Cabot/Livers"). Bidding proceeds clockwise, starting with the player to the dealer's right. The highest bidder chooses the Tarneeb (trump) suit.
If a player fails to meet their bid, the difference is calculated. For instance, if a player bids 10 and collects only 9, the difference (1) is added to the opposing team's score. The points collected by the bidding team are also added to their score.
If the opposing team's score exceeds the bidding team's score, the difference is deducted from the bidding team's score.
The game concludes when one team reaches either 61 or 31 points, depending on the pre-game agreement.
Card Ranking:
A (Ace) K (King) Q (Queen) J (Jack) 10 to 2 (descending order)
