Oh Hell Rules

Oh Hell!: A Timeless Card Game for 3 to 7 Players

Oh Hell! is a classic trick-taking card game that originated in London and New York during the 1930s. It has since become popular worldwide, with various names such as Bust, Boerenbridge, German Bridge, Contract Whist, and Nomination Whist, among others. The objective of the game is to predict the exact number of tricks you can take from each hand, making it a unique blend of strategy and luck.

Game Overview

Oh Hell! can be played with 3 to 7 players using a standard 52-card deck, which you can find on Amazon here. The game is best enjoyed with 4 to 6 players.

Objective

The goal in Oh Hell! is to bid the number of tricks you think you can take from each hand and then make that exact bid. Points are awarded for making your bid exactly, but deducted for missing it, either by taking too many or too few tricks. The hook is that at least one player will fail on each hand because the total number of tricks bid by players may not equal the number of tricks available in that hand.

Setup

To determine the first dealer, players draw cards, and the player with the highest card deals first. The deal then rotates clockwise with each hand. The cards are shuffled and cut, and the dealer deals the cards singly until everyone has the appropriate number of cards for the hand being played. The next card is turned face-up, determining the trump suit for that hand.

How to Play

Bidding begins with the player to the left of the dealer and continues clockwise, ending with the dealer. Each bid represents the number of tricks a player thinks they can take. Players must bid; passing is not an option, but you can bid zero if your objective is to take no tricks at all. A bid may only be changed if the next player to the left has not yet bid.

The play begins with the player to the dealer's left, who leads the first card. Play follows clockwise, and each player must follow the suit led if possible. If a player cannot follow the suit led, they can play any other card in their hand, including trump. The player who plays the highest trump card or, if no trump was played, the highest card of the suit led wins the trick.

Scoring and End of Game

A designated scorekeeper records each bid and resulting scores on a score sheet. In the simplest scoring method, a player who wins the exact number of tricks bid scores 10 plus the number of tricks bid (e.g., 10 points for zero tricks, 11 for one trick, 12 for two tricks, etc.). Players who take more or fewer tricks than they bid score nothing. This method allows the scorekeeper to easily record successful bids by writing a "1" in front of them and deleting unsuccessful ones.

Common Variants

There are several variations of Oh Hell!, including different sequences for the hands, methods for determining trumps, and scoring methods. Some players start from 1 card each, go up to the maximum number of cards, and then back down to 1. Others play from the maximum down to 1 and stop, or vice versa. Some play two 1-card hands in the middle, or from 1 to the maximum to 1 with two maximum hands in the middle.

Some sequences include hands in which all cards are dealt (e.g., 13 cards each to 4 players). In these cases, there is no card left to determine the trump suit, so they are played without trumps. Some play the largest deals without trumps even if not all the cards are used.

Instead of turning up a card, some people go through the possible trump suits in a fixed sequence. This sequence may or may not include "no trumps."

Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

1. Overconfidence: Be cautious when bidding and don't underestimate the cards in your opponents' hands.
2. Not paying attention to the trump suit: Always consider the trump suit when making bids and playing tricks, as it can significantly impact your chances of winning.
3. Ignoring the "hook": Remember that the total number of tricks bid by players may not equal the number of tricks available on each hand, so be mindful of this when bidding.
4. Not adapting to variations: If you're playing a variant with different hand sequences or trump suit determination methods, familiarize yourself with these changes before starting the game.
5. Neglecting scorekeeping: Pay close attention to scoring and keep track of your own and others' scores to avoid mistakes in the end result.