28 Card Game Rules (Twenty Eight)
28 is the classic Kerala trump card game for four players in two teams. Players bid on their first four cards, the winner hides a trump card face down, and play continues with eight cards each.
🃏 Play 28 online free: open the 28 card game.
Cards and points
32 cards (7 to Ace). Order in each suit: J, 9, A, 10, K, Q, 8, 7. Points: Jack 3, 9 2, Ace 1, 10 1, others 0. Total 28.
Dealing and bidding
- Four cards each, then the bidding, then four more each.
- The player on the dealer's right bids first and must bid at least 14. If their four cards hold no points at all, they may ask for a redeal.
- Bidding goes on until three players pass in a row. To bid over your partner when your left-hand opponent has passed, you need at least 20 (Honours).
- After all eight cards are dealt there is a second round: anyone may raise to 24 or more. A new bidder places a new trump card.
- Before the first lead the other team may double (score ×2) and the bidders may redouble (×4).
Trump
- The final bidder places a card face down from their first four cards. Its suit is trump.
- A player who cannot follow suit may call for the trump. If they hold a trump, they must then play one.
- The bidder may not lead the hidden trump suit unless they have nothing else.
Scoring
| Bid | Made | Failed |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 19 | +1 | −2 |
| 20–24 (Honours) | +2 | −3 |
| 25 and up | +3 | −4 |
House rules differ from place to place; these are the widely played rules.
📖 28 strategy tips · ഈ നിയമങ്ങൾ മലയാളത്തിൽ വായിക്കാം
FAQ
How many players play 28?
Four players in two teams of two, partners opposite. Play goes anticlockwise.
What is the minimum bid in 28?
The first bidder, on the dealer's right, must bid at least 14.
What is Honours in 28?
A bid of 20 or more. You need it to bid over your own partner when your left-hand opponent has passed.
What is the difference between 28 and the 40 card game?
40 is played by six players with the 3s added to the pack, so the points total 40, and the 3 ranks equal to the Jack.