Oh Hell - Game Rules

Overview

Oh Hell is a competitive trick-taking card game for 3–8 players. The goal is to predict the exact number of tricks you will win in each round and score points based on the accuracy of your bids. It’s a game of strategy, luck, and careful planning.

Setup

• Players: 3–8 players (ideal for 4–6).
• Deck: A standard 52-card deck is used. No jokers.
• Card Ranking: Cards rank from Ace (high) to 2 (low).
• Preparation: Designate a scorekeeper and determine the number of rounds.
• Dealing:
  • First round: Deal 1 card to each player.
  • Increase cards dealt each round until a maximum, then decrease back to 1.
• Trump Suit: Flip the next card after dealing to determine the trump suit.

Gameplay

Bidding Phase

Each player bids the number of tricks they believe they can win. The dealer ensures the total bids do not equal the number of tricks available.

Playing Tricks

• The player to the dealer’s left leads the first trick.
• Players must follow suit if possible; otherwise, they may play any card.
• The highest card of the suit led wins unless a trump card is played.

Scoring

• Meeting the Bid: Score 10 points plus the number of tricks won.
• Missing the Bid: Score 0 points.

Game End

The game ends after the final round when the cards dealt return to 1. The player with the highest total score wins.

Example Round

Here’s an example with 5 players and 4 cards dealt each:

• Bids: Players bid 1, 2, 1, 0, and 0 respectively.
• Play: Players take turns leading tricks and following suit.
• Scoring: Scores are calculated based on meeting or missing bids.