Break

To win

Call Break is played by four players using a standard 52-card deck. Thirteen cards are dealt to each player, and each player studies the hand before making a call.

Each player announces the number of tricks they expect to win, based on the strength of their hand. The player to the dealer’s right leads the first trick by playing any card.

The remaining players must follow the suit if they have a card of that suit. If they do not, they can play a Spade, which is always the trump suit, or discard a card from another suit. The highest card of the suit led wins the trick unless a Spade is played; in that case, the highest Spade wins.

The player who wins a trick leads the next one. Play continues until all 13 tricks have been played. Players then compare the number of tricks won with their calls. A player who meets or exceeds the call earns points according to the agreed scoring system, while a player who fails to meet the call receives a penalty. The game continues for the agreed number of rounds, and the player with the highest total score wins.

Make realistic calls based on high cards, strong suits and available Spades. Strong trump cards should be saved for important tricks, while lower cards can be used early. Watching opponents’ plays can also reveal which suits they may be short of.