Barbu Card Game Rules

Barbu is a strategic card game designed for four players, making it an ideal choice for gatherings of friends or family. A standard 52-card deck is required, which can be purchased here.

Objective

The objective of Barbu is to score the most points during a series of seven contracts. Each player aims to play each of the seven contracts once, with the initial declarer being chosen at random.

Setup

The dealer is determined randomly, and for the first seven hands, this player will be the declarer. The cards are dealt by the player on the declarer's right, and cut by the player opposite the declarer. After the declarer has completed their seven contracts, the player on the original declarer's left becomes the next declarer, and this continues until everyone has played their seven contracts.

How to Play

Barbu consists of seven contracts, five negative and two positive. The rules for each contract are as follows:

Negative Contracts

1. No Tricks (Losing): Each trick scores -2 points to the player winning it. The total score for the contract is therefore -26.
2. No Queens: Each queen scores -6 points to the player winning it in a trick. The total score for the contract is therefore -24.
3. No Last Two: The last-but-one trick scores -10 points to the player winning it, and the last trick scores -20 points to the player winning it. The total score for the contract is therefore -30.
4. No Hearts: Each heart scores -2 points to the player winning it in a trick, except for the Ace of Hearts, which scores -6. The total score for the contract is therefore -30. A player may not lead hearts unless they have nothing but hearts in their hand.
5. No King of Hearts (Barbu): The King of Hearts scores -20 points to the player winning it in a trick. The total score for the contract is therefore -20. A player may not lead hearts unless they have nothing but hearts in their hand.

Positive Contracts

1. Trumps: Declarer chooses a trump suit. Players must follow suit if possible. A trick is won by the highest trump in it, or if it contains no trump, by the highest card of the suit led. Any card may be led to a trick, but any other player who can legally head the trick by playing a trump is obliged to do so. The winner of a trick leads to the next. Each trick scores +5 points to the player winning it, so the total score for the contract is +65.
2. Dominoes (Fantan): Declarer chooses a starting rank. The object is to get rid of all one's cards before the other players. Each player in turn, starting as usual with declarer, must, if possible, play an acceptable card face upwards to the table. Acceptable cards are those of the chosen rank, also cards of the same suit and adjacent rank to one already played. The first player to go out scores +45. Play continues between the other three players, and the second scores +20. The last two players continue playing and the third to go out scores +5, and the last scores -5. The total score for the contract is therefore +65.

Scoring and End of Game

The doubles are recorded on the score sheet as they are made. Doubles of the declarer are ringed to ensure that each player makes their compulsory two doubles of the declarer. At the end of a hand, the points won or lost by the players are written down. Then, the effects of the doubles are calculated pair by pair, for each of the six pairs of players.

Common Variants

Barbu belongs to a wider family of compendium games in which each deal has its own contract. Closely related games played in other countries include Kierki, Trix, King, Canadian Salad, Lora (Serbian and Croatian) and Lórum (Hungarian). Barbu itself is also played in a simpler traditional French form, in which the contracts are played in a fixed sequence with no choice of contract and no doubling.

A Bit of History

Barbu, which means "bearded" in French, has been played in France for some time. The modern version described here was developed by bridge players and was a favorite of the Italian "Blue Club" bridge team.

Where to Buy the Game

Barbu needs no special equipment: any standard pack works.

52-card deck on Amazon.com

Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

1. Failing to follow suit when possible.
2. Forgetting the restrictions on leading certain cards in certain contracts.
3. Overlooking the requirement to double the declarer at least twice in each series of seven hands.

FAQ

1. Can I play Barbu with fewer than four players? No, Barbu requires four players.
2. Can I change the number of contracts in a game of Barbu? Yes, but doing so would change the rules and scoring of the game.
3. Can I double more than twice against the declarer in each series of seven hands? Yes. Two doubles of the declarer per series of seven hands is a compulsory minimum, not a maximum. Note that the declarer is restricted the other way round: they may only double players who have doubled them.
4. Can I lead hearts when I have hearts in my hand during the No Hearts contract? No, a player may not lead hearts unless they have nothing but hearts in their hand during the No Hearts contract.
5. Can I lead a queen during the No Queens contract? Yes, a player can lead a queen during the No Queens contract, but doing so will score -6 points for the player winning the trick.

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