Bezique (2 player card game)

Objective: Bezique is a classic trick-taking and melding card game traditionally played by four players in partnerships. However, it can be adapted for two players. The goal is to score points by winning tricks and forming specific card combinations known as melds.

Setup: Use a standard deck of 52 cards. Remove all cards below 7 and all 10s, leaving you with 32 cards. Shuffle the deck and deal 16 cards to each player.

Gameplay:

1. Player 1’s Turn – Melding Phase: Player 1 starts by trying to form melds with the cards in their hand. Melds can include sequences of cards in the same suit (such as Ace, King, Queen) or combinations of cards worth points (such as Kings and Queens, Aces and 10s). Each meld has a specific point value.

2. Player 1’s Turn – Trick-taking Phase: After the melding phase, Player 1 leads a card from their hand, placing it face-up in the center of the playing area.

3. Player 2’s Turn: Player 2 then plays a card, following suit if possible. If not, they can play any card from their hand. The highest-ranking card of the led suit wins the trick. If a trump suit is declared, the highest-ranking trump card wins.

4. Scoring: Points are awarded based on the cards won in tricks and the melds formed:

   • Trick Points: Certain cards have point values when won in tricks. For example, Aces are worth 11 points, 10s are worth 10 points, Kings are worth 4 points, Queens are worth 3 points, and Jacks are worth 2 points. Other cards have no point value.
   • Meld Points: Melds formed during the melding phase also score points based on their value. For example, a sequence meld might score 150 points, while a set meld might score 40 points.
   • Total Points: The total points scored by each player are calculated at the end of the game.

5. Player 1’s Turn: After each trick, the player who won the previous trick leads the next one.

6. End of Game: The game continues until all 16 tricks are played. The player with the highest total points wins.

Summary: In this adaptation of Bezique for 2 players, participants alternate between melding and trick-taking phases, aiming to score points through both actions. By modifying the rules and removing certain cards, Bezique transforms into an enjoyable and strategic 2 player card game experience.