Call Break Rules
Call Break (in some places called Call Bridge) is a four-player trick-taking game with spades as permanent trump. There are no partners: each player calls a number of tricks and tries to win at least that many.
♠ Play it now: open Call Break against three computer players.
Players and cards
- 4 players, each playing for themselves.
- A standard 52-card pack. Cards rank A (high), K, Q, J, 10 … 2 in every suit.
- Spades are always trump. Any spade beats any card of another suit.
- The dealer deals all the cards, 13 each. The deal and play go anticlockwise; the deal passes to the right after each round.
Calling
Starting with the player to the dealer's right, each player calls once: the number of tricks they expect to win, from 1 to 13. There is no passing and no overcalling; calls don't have to add up to 13. The call is your target for the round.
Playing
- The player to the dealer's right leads the first trick. Any card may be led, including a spade.
- Follow suit if you can.
- Must beat: when following suit, you must play a card higher than the highest card of that suit already on the table, if you have one. (If the trick has already been trumped, just follow with any card of the suit.)
- Must trump: if you have no card of the suit led, you must play a spade. If a spade has already been played, you must play a higher spade if you can; if you can't, you may play any card.
- Only with no card of the suit led and no spades may you play any card you like.
- The trick is won by the highest spade in it, or if there is none, by the highest card of the suit led. The winner leads the next trick.
Scoring
| Result | Score | Example (call 4) |
|---|---|---|
| Won exactly your call | + call | 4 tricks: +4.0 |
| Won more than your call | + call, plus 0.1 per extra trick | 6 tricks: +4.2 |
| Won fewer than your call | − call | 3 tricks: −4.0 |
A match is usually 5 rounds; the highest total wins. Cheettukali also lets you play 3 or 10.
Common house rules
- Some tables say a call of 8 or more that is made wins the whole game at once.
- Some count extra tricks as a penalty instead of a bonus, to stop under-calling.
- Some redeal if a player has no spades or no face cards.
Cheettukali uses the standard rules above: must beat, must trump, +0.1 per extra trick, 5 rounds.
FAQ
Do I have to play a higher card in Call Break?
Yes, if you have a higher card of the suit led than the best one already played, you must play one. If someone has already trumped, any card of the suit is fine.
What is the minimum call in Call Break?
1. You can't call zero.
Can you lead spades in Call Break?
Yes, spades can be led at any time, even in the first trick.
How many rounds are in Call Break?
Usually 5. The player with the highest total after the last round wins.