trick-taking · India
56 (Fifty-Six)
Also known as 56 · Fifty Six · Fifty-Six · Chappan · 56 card game
56 (Fifty-Six) is the larger partnership version of the Indian Jack-Nine trick-taking family that includes 28 and 29. Traditionally it is played by six players in two teams of three, dealing eight cards each from a doubled 48-card pack worth 56 card points — hence the name. On Love Card Games, 56 runs on our 28 (Twenty-Eight) engine, so you play the same bid-trump-capture game with four players in two partnerships and 28 points on the line. You still bid for the right to name trump, hide it face-down, and race to capture the Jacks and Nines. Play free in your browser vs bots or friends — no signup, no real money.
4–4 players · free · no download · no signup
How to play 56 (Fifty-Six)
- Players bid in turn from 14 upward for the right to name trump.
- The top bidder secretly chooses the trump suit and sets it face-down.
- Lead and follow suit; reveal trump when you cannot follow.
- Win tricks to capture Jacks (3), Nines (2), Aces (1) and Tens (1).
- Make your bid to score game-points; first partnership to the target wins.
56 (Fifty-Six) rules
What 56 is (and what you play here)
Traditional 56 is a six-player, three-vs-three partnership game using two combined decks (48 cards: two of each 7 through Ace) dealt eight per player, with 56 card points in play — double the points of 28. On this site, 56 plays our 28 engine: 4 players, two partnerships, a single 32-card deck (7 to Ace), and 28 points. The bidding, trump and trick-taking flow are the same family.
Card ranking & points
In every suit the order from high to low is Jack, 9, Ace, 10, King, Queen, 8, 7. The Jack is worth 3 points, the Nine 2 points, and the Ace and Ten 1 point each — 7 points per suit. In a single 32-card deck that totals 28 points; in the doubled 56 deck it totals 56.
Bidding & trump
Players bid for the right to name the trump suit, starting from 14 and raising or passing in turn. The highest bidder picks trump and sets it face-down — opponents do not see it until it is revealed in play.
Play of the hand
Follow the suit led if you can. When you can't follow, you may bring out the hidden trump; the highest trump, otherwise the highest card of the led suit, wins the trick and leads the next.
Scoring
The bidding team must capture at least the points it bid, or it loses that bid in game points to the other side. The first partnership to reach the target game-points wins the match.
Strategy tips
- Bid on Jacks and Nines — in this family they are both the highest cards and the biggest point cards.
- Keep your trump strength hidden: lead side suits early so opponents misjudge where trump sits.
- Hold a high trump back to capture the opponents' Jacks and Nines late in the hand.
- Count points as they fall — the four Jacks and four Nines already account for 20 of the 28, so track which side is banking them.
- As a defender, pool just enough points with your partner to set the bidding team's contract rather than chasing every trick.
Variants
28 (single deck, 28 points) · 29 (last-trick point + Marriage rule) · Six-player 56 with a doubled 48-card deck · Court Piece (Rang) and Mendikot (related trump games)
56 (Fifty-Six) — frequently asked questions
What is the 56 (Fifty-Six) card game?
56 is the large-deck member of the Indian Jack-Nine trick-taking family that also includes 28 and 29. Traditionally six players form two teams of three and play with a doubled 48-card pack holding 56 card points. You bid for trump, capture point cards in tricks, and the bidding side must make its bid to score.
Is the 56 here exactly like traditional six-player 56?
No — and we'd rather be upfront. On Love Card Games, 56 runs on our 28 (Twenty-Eight) engine, which is the 4-player, single-deck, 28-point version. The bidding, trump-naming and trick-taking are the same family, but it is not the 6-player, 56-point doubled-deck variant. If true 6-handed 56 is what you want, this is the closest playable cousin we currently offer.
How is 56 related to 28 and 29?
All three share the same suit ranking (Jack high, then 9, Ace, 10, King, Queen, 8, 7) and the bid-for-trump, capture-the-points structure. 28 uses one 32-card deck for 28 points, 29 adds a last-trick point and the Marriage rule, and 56 doubles the deck for 56 points and adds players.
Can I play 56 online for free?
Yes. You can play free in your browser against bots or with friends in real-time multiplayer. There is no signup, no download and no real money — it's purely for fun.