Piquet Rules

Objective

Outscore your opponent across all six hands of the partie by weaving together sharp declarations, precise trick play, and well-timed bonuses. Piquet rewards patience and nerve, because every exchange feels like a small duel of wits. When you read the flow correctly and squeeze the most value out of each phase, the whole game opens up and becomes a wonderfully strategic battle between two skilled minds.

Material

A 32-card Piquet deck, containing:

7♠ 8♠ 9♠ 10♠ J♠ Q♠ K♠ A♠

All four suits include only: 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, A.

Card Ranking

A (high) → K → Q → J → 10 → 9 → 8 → 7 (low)

Setup

Players: Exactly 2 Deal: Each receives 12 cards. The remaining 8 cards form the talon (draw pile).

Elder Hand: Non-dealer (acts first, positional advantage) Younger Hand: Dealer

The Exchange

Elder Hand:

1. Discards 1–5 cards
2. Draws the same number from the talon
3. May look at any talon cards they did not take

Younger Hand:

1. Discards and draws from the remaining talon cards
2. If Elder took fewer than 5, Younger may take more
3. May also look at any unclaimed talon cards

Example:

• Elder discards 3 → draws 3 (5 cards left)
• Younger may discard up to 5 → draws all 5

How to Play

Phase 1: Declaration

Declared in strict order and resolved before tricks.

1. Point

Determine which player has the longest suit.

Comparison Steps:

1. More cards wins
2. If tied → compare pip totals
3. If tied again → Elder wins

Pip values: A=11, K/Q/J=10, 10–7 = face value

Scoring:

• 4-card suit = 4 pts
• 5-card suit = 5 pts
• 6-card suit = 6 pts
• 7-card suit = 7 pts
• 8-card suit = 8 pts

Example: Elder: “Point of 5” Younger: “How much?” Elder: “51” Younger: “Good” → Elder scores 5 points.

2. Sequence

Consecutive cards in one suit.

Types:

• Tierce (3 cards) → 3 pts
• Quart (4 cards) → 4 pts
• Quint (5 cards) → 15 pts
• Sixième (6 cards) → 16 pts
• Septième (7 cards) → 17 pts
• Huitième (8 cards) → 18 pts

Comparison:

1. Longest sequence wins
2. If tied → highest top card wins
3. If tied → Elder wins

If you win: Score all your sequences.

Example: Elder holds A♥ K♥ Q♥ (Tierce) and 9♠ 8♠ 7♠ (Tierce). Younger concedes. → Elder scores 3 + 3 = 6 points.

3. Set

Three or four of a kind (Tens or higher).

Types:

• Trio (3 of a kind) → 3 pts
• Quatorze (4 of a kind) → 14 pts

Comparison:

• Four beats three
• Higher rank beats lower
• Tie → Elder wins

Example: Elder: “Three Kings” Younger: “Not good — four Tens!” → Younger scores 14 points.

Carte Blanche

If your initial 12 cards contain no face cards (no K, Q, J) = 10 points.

Announce immediately before exchanging; must reveal hand.

Phase 2: Trick-Taking

Rules:

• Elder leads first trick
• Must follow suit
• No trump; highest card of led suit wins
• Trick winner leads next

Scoring:

• Elder scores 1 point for leading first trick
• Each trick = 1 point
• Last trick winner = 1 bonus point

Capot

Winning all 12 tricks yields 40 points (instead of 13).

Scoring Summary

Declaration Points

| Category | Points | |----------|--------| | Point | 4–8+ | | Tierce | 3 | | Quart | 4 | | Quint | 15 | | Sixième+ | 16+ | | Trio | 3 | | Quatorze | 14 | | Carte Blanche | 10 |

Trick Points

| Achievement | Points | |-------------|--------| | Lead first trick | 1 | | Each trick won | 1 | | Last trick | +1 | | Capot | 40 total |

Bonus Scoring

Repique (rare, huge)

Score 30+ declaration points before opponent scores anything → +60 points

Pique

Score 30+ points (declarations + first trick lead) before opponent scores → +30 points

Example Repique:

• Point = 5
• Two Quints = 30

= 35 declaration points → +60 bonus = 95 total before tricks start

Strategy

Exchange (Critical Phase)

Elder:

• Usually discards 5
• Build the longest suit (Point)
• Protect long sequences
• Aim for Quint or better

Younger:

• Adjust based on Elder’s draw count
• If Elder takes 5, you get none — plan differently
• Sometimes draw fewer to deny Elder information

Declaration Strategy

Point: Long suits win often; pip totals matter.

Sequences: A Quint (15 pts) is massive. Two Tierces are only 6 total.

Sets: A Quatorze is worth more than two Quints — extremely powerful.

Trick-Taking

• Lead strong suits
• Track every high card — only 32 cards exist
• Manage tempo: your goal is often to break opponent sequences
• Prevent opponent from completing Pique/Repique

Ending the Game

The Partie (6 Hands)

After six hands, add totals.

Rubicon

If the loser finishes with under 100 points, the winner scores:

• Their own points
• Plus the loser’s points
• Plus 100 bonus points

Example: Winner: 720 Loser: 85 → Winner receives 720 + 85 + 100 = 905 points

Variants

Piquet au Cent

First to 100 points wins a quick single-hand game.

Piquet Normand

Regional scoring differences; lighter trick values.

Auction Piquet

Players bid for Elder position. Failing to meet your bid incurs penalties.