Forty-fives - General Game Play

General Game Play

1. Each player is dealt three cards at once, starting with the player left of the dealer and continuing in a clockwise-direction.
2. Each player is dealt two cards at once, in the same order.
3. The top card of the deck is turned face up. The card that is shown determines the trump suit and that card is left on top of the deck. If an Ace is turned up, that is the trump suit but the dealer must immediately claim the Ace by discarding one of his dealt cards. Failure to discard removes this right to rob the deck. Note, if a Joker is turned up, the dealer keeps it by discarding one of his own cards and then flips up another card that becomes trump.
4. If any of the players is dealt the Ace of the trump suit, then he may claim the card that was turned up by discarding one of his other cards. This must be done before he plays his first card, otherwise his Ace becomes the lowest trump card.
5. One card is played by each player, in turn, starting with the player to the left of the dealer. The winner of the trick is determined by who played the highest card. The winner gets five points (on his way to 120). A bonus trick worth ten points rather than five points is awarded for the best card played during the round. This is determined at the end of the round.
6. Points are added up based on tricks won and the bonus trick at the end of the round. If a player reached 120 points or more (including points earned in previous rounds), that player wins. If more than one player reaches at least 120 points in the same round, the player with more points is the winner. If no player reaches 120 points, the deal is given to the player to the left of the last dealer and a new round begins.