What is meant by "bidding?" To understand this you must understand that to score points players must take tricks^†.

A player makes a bid by verbally indicating how many tricks they think their team can take. Before placing their bid a player may look at all of their 10 cards (3 remain unseen for now).

Bids are binding. In other words, if no one outbids you then you become the high bidder and your team must take the number of tricks you bid in order to score any points.

REMEMBER:
• Bidding begins with the player to the left of the dealer.
• Bidding continues in a clockwise fashion.
• Bids must always be higher than the previous bid.
• Any player who does not wish to make a bid may choose to pass.
• Players who have passed may not bid again until after the next deal.
• A player may make multiple bids but is limited to one bid per turn.
• Teammates may outbid their own teammates if they choose.

The bidding continues until 3 of the 4 players have passed. The remaining player is known as the high bidder.

If the high bidder's team takes at least the number of tricks that was bid then they score 1 point.

If the other team prevents the high bidder and his teammate from taking their tricks then they have been 'set' and the other team gets 2 points.

IMPORTANT: The high bidder gets the privilege of choosing what suit will be trump. Continue to the next page for more information about this.