Anybody play buck?

I can’t find any rules that even come close to how we play around here. I copy and pasted from a couple different sites.


Buck (Mn rules)


Buck is a trick taking game for 2 teams of two. It’s played with 24 standard playing cards (using only the 9, 10, J, Q, K, and, A). The objective is for your team to get to 52 points first.


A pen and paper are used to keep score.


The dealer has to deal at least 2 cards at a time until everyone has 6 cards.

The goal is to take at a minimum, the number of tricks you have bid. It is acceptable and desirable to take more tricks than you have bid.

The highest trump is the jack of the trump suit, called the "right bower." The second-highest trump is the jack of the other suit of the same color called the "left bower." (Example: If diamonds are trumps, the right bower is J♦ and left bower is J♥.) The remaining trumps rank as follows: A (high), K, Q, 10, 9. The remaining (non-trump) suits, rank as follows: A (high), K, Q, J, 10, 9. A trump card of any value always ranks above a non-trump card.

The bidding starts with the player to the left of the dealer and goes around the table clockwise. No table talk. A bid is the number of tricks the player offers to win if allowed to choose trumps, but no suit is mentioned as part of the bid at this time. The lowest possible bid is "3”. It is considered being “under”(the person to the left of the dealer is “under” if he or she chooses not to bid they are under for 3 (meaning of everyone passes they are stuck bidding 3)) Each number bid must be higher than the previous one. If you do not wish to bid higher, you may pass.

A participant may also bid "high" or “low” when bidding you say the number of tricks followed by “no trump” a regular trunk bid outbids the same value “no trump” bid.In this case the rank of the cards is A (high), K, Q, J, 10, 9.

You have to bid at least 4 on a no trump bid. 4 trump is a higher bid than 4 no trump.

No trump you do not get to lead out. Low starts with the player to your left and high to the right.

The highest bidder names the trump suit or announces high/low if they called no trump. Then each of the other players in turn announces whether they will play or drop out (let them have it).
If you don’t think you will get at least one trick you can drop out “let them have it”

The players who bid get their points and you don’t get set. (Get zero and deal the next hand)

You can’t drop out of a 3 bid (under bid)

The opening lead is made by the player who won the bid. If he can, each player must follow suit to a lead. If unable to follow suit, the player may trump or discard any card. A trick is won by the highest card of the suit led, or, if it contains trumps, by the highest trump. The winner of a trick leads next.

Each trick is a point. If you don’t get the amount of tricks you bid it’s called
being set. Say you bid 4 and only got 3 tricks. You got set and go back 6 points.

Say you were under for 3 and only got 2 tricks. You got set and go back 6 points.




Bidding 12 and 24

12 bid you are allowed to pass your partner 1 card in return for one of their cards. You must get all 6 tricks without your partner playing or you get set 12. Each trick your opponent gets is doubled.


24 bid no passing cards and no partner help. All 6 tricks or you get set 24. Again each trick your opponent gets is doubled.


High low is optional 12 or 24 bid so decide before the game. Still don’t get to lead out. Low to the left high to the right.

After a trick has been completed, the player who took the trick must gather the trick and place it face down in front of them. Quitted (completed) tricks can not be turned face up for review with the following exception. The last quitted trick may be turned face up for review if requested by anyone at the table. After review, it must be turned back over before the next trick is played.