Twenty Nine at a glance
Twenty Nine is a partnership game where jacks and nines outrank aces. Bid after seeing only half your hand, with trump initially hidden. Point cards and careful counting matter more than familiar ace-high instincts.
- Players
- 4 · Two teams
- Deck
- 32 cards · 7 through Ace
- Highest cards
- Jack, 9, Ace, 10
- Target
- 6 game points
How to play Twenty Nine online
Play free in your browser, with no download or account required. Choose the kind of table you want to join.
Practice with computers
Choose Play with computers and a pace: Relaxed, Friendly, or Quick. Use Hint when you need help finding a move.
Invite your friends
Choose Invite friends and share Copy invite or the room code. Friends join through Have an invite? The host can fill empty seats with computers.
Find an online opponent
Choose Find online players to look for other people. If no matching players are available, you can practice with computers instead.
Computer games also need an internet connection. The table handles dealing, legal moves, and scoring. These rules describe the version played here; other tables may use different house rules.
Rules of Twenty Nine
First deal and bidding
Use thirty-two cards, sevens through aces. Rank is jack, nine, ace, ten, king, queen, eight, seven. Opposite players are partners. Deal four cards first, then bid fifteen to twenty-eight or pass.
Hidden trump and second deal
Three consecutive passes end the auction; an all-pass dealer bids fifteen. The high bidder chooses a secret trump, then everyone receives four more cards. Left of dealer leads.
Playing and revealing trump
Follow suit if able. Trump is revealed automatically at the first turn that cannot follow suit; that player may choose any card. Highest trump wins, otherwise highest of the led suit.
Scoring and winning
Card points and the royal pair
Jacks count three, nines two, aces and tens one; the last trick adds one. After trump is revealed, a held royal pair is automatically announced when its team wins a trick. It lowers the declarer’s contract by four (minimum fifteen), or raises it for defenders (maximum twenty-eight).
Contract results
The bidding team gains one game point for making its contract, otherwise loses one. Defenders do not score. Reach six to win, or minus six to lose.
How to get better at Twenty Nine
Value jacks and nines
Jacks are worth three points and nines two. Plan your bid around these valuable winners.
Allow for the second deal
You bid on four cards and receive four more later. Uncertain support is not a guaranteed winner.
Watch trump appear
The table reveals trump when a player cannot follow suit. Reassess your hand’s control when it is shown.
Notice the royal pair
A trump king–queen pair can change the contract after its team wins a trick. Check the adjusted target when announced.
Frequently asked questions
Why does a nine beat an ace?
The order is Jack, 9, Ace, 10, King, Queen, 8, 7. This ranking is a defining feature of Twenty Nine.
How many points are available?
The cards total 28 points. The last trick adds one, making 29 available here.
When is trump revealed?
Automatically at the first turn when a player cannot follow the led suit.
What does the royal pair do?
After trump is revealed, a held king–queen pair in trump is announced when its team wins a trick. It adjusts the declarer’s contract by four, within the range 15 to 28.
Can I play Twenty Nine against computers?
Yes. Choose Play with computers at the table and select a computer pace. Private tables can also mix friends with computers. An internet connection is required.
How do I invite friends to Twenty Nine?
Choose Invite friends, then use Copy invite in the waiting room. Friends can open that link or enter the room code in Have an invite? The host can fill empty seats with computers.
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