What Is the 28 Card Game? Kerala's Irupathiyettu
28, called ഇരുപത്തിയെട്ട് (Irupathiyettu) in Malayalam, is the trump card game Kerala grew up with. Four players, two teams, a trump card hidden face down, and a lot of noise around the table.
The basics
- Players: 4, in two teams; partners sit opposite.
- Cards: 32, from 7 to Ace in each suit.
- Ranking: J, 9, A, 10, K, Q, 8, 7 in every suit.
- Points: Jack 3, Nine 2, Ace 1, Ten 1; 28 in the pack.
How a hand goes
- Four cards each. Bidding starts at 14; the player next to the dealer must open.
- The winning bidder hides a card face down: its suit is the തുറുപ്പ് (thuruppu, trump).
- Four more cards each. Now a second round lets anyone raise to 24 or more and set a new trump.
- Eight rounds are played. The bidding team needs its bid in points.
Honours
A bid of 20 to 24 is called Honours. To bid over your own partner you need Honours, which stops partners from out-bidding each other casually.
Scoring
| Bid | Made | Failed |
|---|---|---|
| 14–19 | +1 | −2 |
| 20–24 | +2 | −3 |
| 25–28 | +3 | −4 |
Failing costs more than making earns, so bid carefully.
Where it came from
28 belongs to the same family as north India's 29 and Sri Lanka's 304. All of them rank the Jack and Nine on top, a sign of descent from the European Jass games.
Learn more
Full 28 rules · 28 tips · 28 vs 29 · 28 നിയമങ്ങൾ മലയാളത്തിൽ
A typical evening of 28
Most Kerala groups play to a set number of game points, or simply until tea is called. Score is kept with spare cards or on a scrap of paper, and the losing team usually shuffles the next round. The best part is the post-mortem: "why didn't you ask for the thuruppu?"
Common house rules you may meet
- A hand with all four Jacks is redealt.
- A first bidder with no points may show the hand and ask for a redeal.
- Cot: winning every round scores double at some tables.
- Thani: one player promises every round alone, often +4 / −5.
28 vs 29 in one line
Same cards and ranking; 28 has Honours and a second bidding round, 29 has the Pair and the ±6 race. Details in 28 vs 29.
🃏 Try it now: play 28 free in your browser, no download, no money.
FAQ
What is 28 called in Malayalam?
Irupathiyettu (ഇരുപത്തിയെട്ട്), which simply means twenty-eight.
What is the minimum bid in 28?
14. The player next to the dealer must open with at least 14.