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How to Play Batak

Batak is a popular Turkish trick-taking game for four players, in the same family as Spades and Whist. Players bid how many tricks they will take, and the highest bidder chooses trump.

You can play every player for themselves, or in partnerships with the player across the table.

Players:
4, solo or partners
Deck:
52 cards
Match:
11 deals

Goal

  • Take as many tricks as you bid. After 11 deals, the highest score wins.

Table layout

  • 4 players: you at the bottom, opponents left, top and right. In partners mode the player across is your partner.
  • The 4 cards of each trick meet in the middle and then go to the winner's face-down pile.

Terms

  • Trick: one round in which everyone plays a card. The highest card wins it.
  • Bid: how many tricks you promise to take. The highest bid wins the auction.
  • Trump: the suit the bid winner chooses. A trump beats every card of the other suits.
  • Breaking trump: the first time someone plays a trump.
  • Going set: taking fewer tricks than you bid.

How to play

  • Everyone gets 13 cards. Players bid in turn, at least 5. If everyone passes, the dealer must take the bid at 5.
  • The bid winner chooses trump and leads the first trick.
  • You must follow suit, and play a higher card than the table if you have one.
  • If you cannot follow suit you must trump, and overtrump if you can.
  • You cannot lead trump before it is broken (unless you hold only trumps).

Scoring

  • Making your bid scores the tricks you took. Going set loses your bid.
  • The other players score the tricks they took.
  • In partners mode the partners' points count together.

Tips

  • Count your sure tricks before you bid: Aces, high trumps and long suits.
  • As the bid winner, pick the suit where you hold the most cards.
  • Because you must play higher when you can, a low card in the led suit is often worth keeping for later.

Controls

  • Pick a number or Pass on the bidding panel, then choose trump.
  • Tap the card you want to play. Playable cards are bright, the others are dimmed.

Play Batak in Cardiva

Cardiva brings six classic card games together in one app: Pişti, Batak, Pis Yedili, Hearts, Crazy Eights and Solitaire. Play smart bots anytime, even offline, or open a private room and play with friends.

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