طرنيب Tarneeb

Blackjack, or Tarneeb Blackjack as it's known in many Arab countries, particularly the Levant, is a popular card game. In the Arab Gulf, it's often called "Rule." The goal is to win consecutive Tarneeb rounds. Four players participate, forming two teams of two. Teams compete until one reaches the winning score, determining the overall victor.

The game utilizes a standard 52-card deck (no Jokers). Play proceeds clockwise, beginning with the player to the dealer's left. Teams remain fixed throughout the game.

Cards are dealt clockwise, starting to the dealer's right. Bidding begins with a minimum bid of 7, increasing to a maximum of 13 ("Cabot/Livers"). Bidding proceeds clockwise, with the highest bidder choosing the Tarneeb suit.

If a player fails to meet their bid, the difference is deducted from their team's score and added to the opposing team's score. For instance, a bid of 10 with only 9 cards collected results in a 4-point deduction (10-9 = 1, and the opposing team receives the 1 point plus the 3 points collected).

If a team's score is 5 points behind, the game is over and the team in the lead wins.

The game concludes when one team reaches either 61 or 31 points, depending on pre-game agreement.

Card ranking: A (Cut) > K (Sheikh) > Q (Girl) > J (Born) > 10 > 9 > 8 > 7 > 6 > 5 > 4 > 3 > 2