The card game Piquet is a fun, multi-style game played with two players.
Score points through card combination and taking tricks.
Find the video tutorial and written explanation for how to play the card game piquet below.
Piquet Tutorial
Needed
32 card deck of aces down to the 7s; two players, pen and paper for scorekeeping
Deal
Each player is dealt 12 cards in sets of two or three cards. The remaining eight cards are placed into the middle.
Objective
The object of the game is to score the most points from six deals. Points are scored through card combinations and winning tricks.
Card Rank
Highest to lowest - Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7
Game Play
The combinations that score points are the Point, which goes to the player with the most cards in a single suit. The Sequence points go the player with the longest sequence of cards in order and the same suit. A Sequence must be at least three cards in length. The Set points go to the player with the highest ranking cards in a set of four or three.
During the trick taking phase, points are scored by leading a trick, winning a trick that your opponent led, winning the last trick, and winning the most tricks.
Each player gets a chance to exchange cards with cards from the remaining deck. The non-dealer is first to exchange cards and can exchange one to five cards. The dealer then gets to exchange up to the amount of cards left.
The non-dealer is first to declare the combinations in his/her hand to try and score points. Only the player with the best combination in each category scores points for that category. After the non-dealer declares for a category, the dealer will announce good, no good, or equal. Good means the non-dealer’s combination is better and can be scored. No good means the dealer’s combination is better, and the non-dealer doesn’t score for that combination. Equal means that additional information is needed to determine the winner.
When both players have an equal Point combination, the player with the higher value of cards in the point suit wins. The value is determined with aces being worth 11, kings through tens being worth 10, nines are worth 9, eights worth 8, and sevens worth 7. When equal on Sequence, the player with the higher ranking card starting the sequence wins. When equal on Set, the player with the higher ranking card in a set wins. A set must have a rank of 10 or higher.
After the non-dealer is done declaring, he/she will play a card into the middle to lead the first trick. Before the dealer plays on the trick, he/she will declare his/her card combinations. Once the dealer is done declaring, he/she will play a card into the trick. Players must follow the lead suit when possible. The player with the highest card in the lead suit wins the trick. The player that wins the trick leads the next trick.
Rules
If a player is dealt no face cards, it is known as carte blanche. Carte Blanche must be declared immediately and shown to your opponent. Ten points are awarded for the carte blanche, and then the game continues with the card exchanges.
If a player scores 30 points before the other player scores any points during the declaration phase, a bonus of 60 points is received (known as Repiquet). If a player scores 30 points before the other player scores any points after going into the trick taking phase, a bonus of 30 points is received (known as Piquet).
If during the declaration there is an equal call for point or sequence and a tie in point value or sequence rank, no points are awarded for the category.
Points
Carte Blanche: 10 points
Point: Number of cards in longest suit
Sequence: Number of cards in sequence (minimum three cards)
Set of 4: 14 points
Set of 3: 3 points
Repiquet (30-0): 60 points
Trick Led: 1 point
Trick Taken from Opponent: 1 point1
Last Trick: 1 point
Most Tricks: 10 points
All 12 Tricks: 40 points
Piquet (30-0): 30 points
Win
Most points after six deals.