trick-taking · Middle East / Levant
Tarneeb
Also known as Tarneeb 41 · Tarneeb 63
Tarneeb is the hugely popular Middle Eastern partnership trick-taking game — bid the number of tricks your team will take, name the trump (tarneeb), and make your contract. Play free in your browser vs bots or friends, no signup.
4–4 players · free · no download · no signup
How to play Tarneeb
- Each player bids the tricks their team will take.
- The highest bidder names trump.
- Follow suit; trump beats the led suit.
- Make your bid to score, miss it to lose points.
- First team to 41 wins.
Tarneeb rules
Teams & deal
4 players in two partnerships, a 52-card deck, 13 cards each.
Bidding
Each player bids the number of tricks (from 7) their team will take; the highest bidder names the trump suit.
Play
Follow the led suit if you can; highest trump, else highest of the led suit, wins the trick.
Scoring
Make your bid to score those points; miss it and you go negative. First team to 41 (or 31) wins.
Strategy tips
- Bid on your long suit + high cards.
- Lead trump to draw out opponents when strong.
- Support your partner's bid.
- Set the opponents by taking the tricks they need.
Variants
Tarneeb 41 · Tarneeb 63 · Syrian Tarneeb
Tarneeb — frequently asked questions
What does Tarneeb mean?
Tarneeb means 'trump' in Arabic — the highest bidder chooses which suit is trump for the hand.
How many points to win Tarneeb?
Commonly 41 (or 31). Make your bid to score it; miss and you subtract it.