What Is the 29 Card Game? Twenty Nine, Explained Simply
29, also written Twenty Nine, is a four-player trick-taking card game played in two teams. It is one of the most popular card games in India, Bangladesh and Nepal, and a close cousin of Kerala's 28. If you have ever seen four friends slapping down Jacks and Nines and arguing about who should have asked for the trump, that was probably 29.
The game in one paragraph
Four players sit in two partnerships, partners opposite each other. Each player gets four cards and the bidding starts: whoever promises the most points wins the right to pick a trump suit, which they keep hidden face down. Four more cards are dealt, and the eight rounds (tricks) are played. The bidding team needs to collect at least as many card points as it bid; the other team tries to stop it.
The cards
29 uses only 32 cards: the 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace of each suit. The unusual part is the ranking. In every suit the order from highest to lowest is:
J > 9 > A > 10 > K > Q > 8 > 7
So the Jack is the boss of its suit, and the Nine beats the Ace. Only four kinds of card carry points: Jack 3, Nine 2, Ace 1 and Ten 1. Four suits of those add up to 28 points in the pack.
Why is it called 29 if there are 28 points?
Older tables gave one extra point to the team that won the last round, making 29 points in all. Most players today don't count that point, but the name stuck. That's also why the game is so closely linked to 28, the Kerala version, where the name matches the points.
The hidden trump
What makes 29 special is the hidden trump. The winning bidder places one card face down, and its suit is the trump, but only they know which suit it is. When another player can't follow the suit that was led, they may ask for the trump to be shown. From that moment trumps beat every other suit. Deciding when to reveal, and when to keep the opponents guessing, is the heart of the game.
Extras you will hear about
- Pair (Royals or Marriage): the King and Queen of trumps in one hand. It moves the bidding team's target by 4 points.
- Single hand: a player with a huge hand can play alone, without trumps, and must win all eight rounds.
- Double and redouble: the defenders can double the stakes, and the bidders can double them again.
- The sixes: many tables keep score with a red Six and a black Six. Reaching six points on either side ends the game.
How long does a game take?
One hand takes about three to five minutes. A full game, played until one side reaches +6 or −6, usually takes 20 to 40 minutes, depending on how many hands are lost and won.
Where to go next
Read the full 29 card game rules, pick up some winning tips, or see how it differs from Kerala's game in 28 vs 29.
A sample hand, start to finish
You hold J♥ 9♥ 7♥ Q♠ after the first four cards. You bid 17, the others pass. You hide the 7♥ face down: hearts are trump. Four more cards arrive. You test the table with your Q♠, your partner wins two rounds with Aces, and when an opponent finally asks for the trump, your J♥ and 9♥ take the big rounds. Your team ends with 19 points: bid made, +1.
Who is 29 for?
29 suits anyone who enjoys thinking with a partner. It rewards memory (which Jacks are gone?), reading people (why did she bid 18?) and timing (when to ask for the trump). Beginners can play a decent game after one evening; good players keep improving for years.
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FAQ
Is 29 the same as 28?
They are very close: same 32 cards, same ranking, same 28 points. 29 adds the Pair and the ±6 scoring; 28 has Honours at 20 and a second bidding round.
How many players play 29?
Four players in two fixed teams of two, partners sitting opposite.
What is the highest card in 29?
The Jack of each suit, followed by the Nine, Ace and Ten.