How to play Oh Hell

Oh Hell is the family trick-taking game that goes by many names: Up and Down the River, Oh Pshaw, Blackout. Three to seven people can play, and the whole idea fits in one line: say exactly how many tricks you will take, then take exactly that many.

The hands

The first hand has 7 cards each, the next 6, then 5, all the way down to a single card. In the River game the hands then climb back up to 7, thirteen hands in all. The Short game stops at one card.

Trump

After the deal, the next card of the deck is turned face up. Its suit is trump for that hand: a trump beats any card of another suit, and a higher trump beats a lower one.

Bidding

Starting left of the dealer, everyone says how many tricks they will take, from zero up to the number of cards in hand. The dealer bids last, with one catch: the dealer may not pick the number that would make all the bids add up to the number of cards. So every hand, someone is going to miss. That is where the name comes from.

Playing

• The player left of the dealer leads any card.
• You must follow suit if you can. If you cannot, play anything, a trump or a card you want to get rid of.
• The highest trump wins the trick. With no trump in it, the highest card of the suit led wins. Aces are high.
• Whoever wins a trick leads the next one.

Scoring

• Take exactly what you bid: 10 points plus one per trick. Bid 3 and take 3 for 13. Bid 0 and take nothing for 10.
• Miss by any amount, too many or too few: nothing for that hand.
• After the last hand, the most points wins.

Tips from the kitchen table

1. Count the sure things. Aces, high trumps, a King with one small card next to it. Then shade down: with more players, each card wins less often.
2. Zero is a real bid. A hand of small cards can score 10 just by losing every trick.
3. Once your bid is made, duck. Throw your high cards on tricks someone else is already winning.
4. Watch the others. If two players still need tricks, let them fight; if nobody does, a trick may land in your lap.
5. One-card hands are a guess. Look at the trump and your single card, and bid 1 only with a high trump or an Ace.

Today's deal

Every day there is one Daily Deal: a single hand of seven cards against three computer players, the same for everyone. Bid it right and see how you compare with everyone who played today.

Questions

Can I play with friends? Yes. Choose "Play with friends", pick three to seven players and send the link, or read out the four-letter table code. Everyone plays on their own phone, nobody sees the other hands, and the computer fills open seats.

How strong are the computers? Easy guesses at bids and slips now and then. Normal counts its sure tricks and plays to hit its bid. Sharp looks at many possible deals of the hidden cards before every bid and card.

Do I need an account? No. Your game is saved in this browser, so you can close the page and come back.