Any person may start as the dealer. The dealer position rotates clockwise at the start of each hand. The cards are shuffled and cut by the dealer after which he deals the cards out one at a time, starting with the player to his left, until all players have thirteen cards.

Players may look at only 10 of their cards. It is critical that 3 of their cards remain face down and that no one see them until the first trick is taken. Once the dealing process is finished the bidding process can begin.