Playing the card game 500 involves bidding on tricks, forming partnerships, and scoring points based on the number of tricks taken and trump suit declared.
Ever wondered how to play the card game 500? It’s a trick-taking game with a unique bidding system, requiring both strategy and a little luck. You form teams and try to win the most tricks based on your bid and the trump suit you chose.
The game’s distinct bidding process adds an extra layer of complexity and excitement. Players must carefully assess their hands before making a bid. The team that reaches 500 points first, wins!
How to Play the Card Game 500
So, you’re curious about how to play 500? That’s fantastic! 500 is a really fun card game that’s been enjoyed by families and friends for years. It’s a trick-taking game, kind of like Euchre or Hearts, but with its own special twists. Don’t worry if it seems a little confusing at first. We’ll break it all down step-by-step, so you’ll be playing like a pro in no time. This guide is designed to make learning 500 easy and enjoyable.
Understanding the Basics of 500
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of the game, let’s cover the fundamental building blocks of 500. It’s helpful to understand these basic concepts before learning how to play a round.
Number of Players
500 is typically played with three or four players. Though variations exist, these are the standard player counts. If playing with four, it can be played either with two teams of two or as individuals. Three-player games are always individual.
The Deck
You’ll need a standard 52-card deck of playing cards, plus one or two Joker cards. This brings the total to 53 or 54 cards. The jokers are very important, and we’ll explain why soon. If using only one Joker, this acts as the highest value card in game.
Card Ranking
The cards in 500 have a specific rank order, and it’s important to know this order before playing. It’s slightly different than most card games. Here’s the ranking from highest to lowest:
- Joker (if used, and higher than everything else)
- Jack of the trump suit
- Jack of the same color as trump (this is called the right bower and left bower)
- Ace of the trump suit
- King of the trump suit
- Queen of the trump suit
- Ten of the trump suit
- Nine of the trump suit
- Eight of the trump suit
- Seven of the trump suit
- Six of the trump suit
- Five of the trump suit
- Four of the trump suit
- Three of the trump suit
- Two of the trump suit
- Ace
- King
- Queen
- Jack
- Ten
- Nine
- Eight
- Seven
- Six
- Five
- Four
- Three
- Two
For the non-trump suits, the order is a more common arrangement:
Remember, the jack of the trump suit is the second-highest card, and the jack of the same color of the trump suit is the third-highest. The other cards are ordered as normal within their suits.
For example, If Spades are the trump suit. The order from highest to lowest is:
- Joker (If used)
- Jack of Spades
- Jack of Clubs (The same color as spades)
- Ace of Spades
- King of Spades
- Queen of Spades
- Ten of Spades
- Nine of Spades
- Eight of Spades
- Seven of Spades
- Six of Spades
- Five of Spades
- Four of Spades
- Three of Spades
- Two of Spades
- Then the normal ranking for Hearts, Clubs and Diamonds
The Goal of the Game
The primary goal in 500 is to be the first player or team to reach 500 points. Points are earned by taking tricks (groups of cards played in a single round) and by winning the bidding process which is the beginning of every hand.
Setting Up the Game
Now that we’ve got the basics down, let’s look at how to set up a game of 500. It’s pretty simple, really, and a smooth setup will let you dive right into the action.
Dealing the Cards
The dealer shuffles the deck and deals out the cards. The number of cards dealt to each player depends on how many people are playing:
- Three Players: Each player receives ten cards. Three cards are dealt face down to form the ‘kitty’ or the ‘widow.’
- Four Players: Each player receives ten or twelve cards. This is dependent on preference. If playing with two-player teams of two, each player will receive ten cards. If playing individually, each player will receive 12 cards. For a 10-card deal, four cards are dealt face down to form the ‘kitty’. For 12 cards, there will be no kitty.
The deal begins with the player to the dealer’s left and continues clockwise.
The Kitty (or Widow)
The “kitty” or the “widow” is a small pile of face-down cards that aren’t dealt directly to a player. This is primarily used in the three-player game, or in a four player game with a 10 card deal. In a four-player game with a 12 card deal, there is no kitty. The kitty becomes very important during the bidding process.
The Bidding Process
The bidding process is a central part of 500, and this is what makes the game so much more than a standard trick-taking game. This is where players compete to decide who will name the trump suit, and what points they will attempt to secure. The process determines the game’s dynamic.
How Bidding Works
Bidding starts with the player to the dealer’s left and continues clockwise around the table. Each player has the option to either bid or pass. A bid consists of a number (the number of tricks a player or team is willing to win) along with a suit or “no trump.” Bids must be higher than the previous bid, and once passed, a player cannot bid again during that round.
Minimum Bid
The minimum bid is always six tricks. For example, a player may bid “six hearts”. This means they are bidding to win at least six tricks with hearts as the trump suit.
Increasing Bids
Subsequent bids must either increase the number of tricks or if the bid is for the same number of tricks, it must be with a higher suit. The bidding hierarchy of suits is as follows from lowest to highest: Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, Spades, No Trump.
For example, if a player bids “six hearts” the next bid would need to be “six spades” or “seven clubs”. The suits must ascend the order previously mentioned. It’s essential to understand this to be a successful bidder.
No Trump
“No Trump” is the highest suit bid and can be bid once the player decides they do not want a specific suit as the trump suit. With No Trump, none of the four suits is the trump suit. Therefore, the only card ranking that applies is that the Joker is highest and then, Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 for each suit. The player who wins the bid for ‘No Trump’ must still win at least 6 tricks to secure the points.
Passing
If a player doesn’t want to bid, they pass. Once a player passes, they can no longer bid for that round. The bidding continues until all players pass except one.
Winning the Bid
The last player to place a bid wins. This player becomes the declarer, and they get to choose the trump suit (unless they bid “no trump”). If bidding in a team environment, the bid is for the whole team. The declarer’s team must work together to secure the number of tricks won.
The Kitty and the Declarer
If there is a kitty, the declarer picks up the kitty. They then discard the same amount of cards they picked up (three or four). They have the opportunity to use these new cards to strengthen their hand or remove cards that would have been detrimental to winning the bid. This is a crucial part of game play.
Playing a Round of 500
Once the bidding process is completed and a trump suit (or no trump) is chosen, it’s time to actually play a hand of 500. This is where the trick-taking comes into play, and it involves strategy, skill, and a little bit of luck.
Leading the First Trick
The player to the left of the dealer leads the first trick (or the player to the left of the declarer if the declarer is the first player to lead). This means they place one card face up on the table. The suit of the first card played in a round becomes the “led suit” for that round.
Following Suit
The other players take turns to also play a card on the table. Whenever possible, the other players must “follow suit”. This means that they must play a card of the same suit that was led. However, if a player does not have a card of the led suit, they may play any other card, including a trump card.
Winning a Trick
The player who plays the highest ranking card in the trick wins it. If trump is played, it wins over any card of the led suit. If multiple trump cards are played, the highest trump card wins the trick. The player who wins the trick collects all cards in that trick. They then lead the next trick with a card from their hand.
The Joker Card
The Joker card is very important in the game. It’s generally considered the highest card in the game. The Joker card can be played anytime, regardless of the led suit, and it always wins the trick unless a higher Joker card is played. Some 500 variants omit the Joker card from play. If this is the case, the Jack of the trump suit is highest card.
The Play Continues
The players continue playing tricks in this fashion until all of the cards have been used in each player’s hand. At this point, the round is complete.
Scoring in 500
After a round of 500 is complete, it’s time to tally up the points. This step is crucial to determining who is closer to that winning total of 500. This is when the bids come into play, and it involves making sure the bids were met, and correctly calculate how many points were scored in that round.
Trick Points
Points are awarded for the number of tricks won in a round. The number of points awarded to the declarer is dependent on the bid. The number of points awarded is set based on the number of tricks that are part of the bid. These are as follows:
- Six Tricks: 40 Points
- Seven Tricks: 140 Points
- Eight Tricks: 240 Points
- Nine Tricks: 340 Points
- Ten Tricks: 440 Points
If the declarer or their team meets their bid, they are awarded the number of points of the bid. If the declarer fails to win the amount of tricks they bid on, the value of the bid is subtracted from their total points. If a player wins the bid and declares “No Trump” the points are doubled. These can either be subtracted or added depending if the bid was met or not. If a declarer is playing with a partner, they both receive or lose the points.
Bonus Points
There are no additional points for any specific cards in 500, such as aces or tens. The points are solely awarded based on the tricks. This means that points can only be received from the bid that is won.
Keeping Score
It is important to keep a running total of each player’s or team’s score on a piece of paper. The first player or team to reach 500 points wins the game. If more than one player reaches 500 in the same round, the player with the highest total wins the game.
Tips and Strategies for Playing 500
Now that you know the rules, let’s talk about some tips to elevate your game. Here are some strategies that can help you play 500 a little bit better, and increase the chances of winning.
Bidding Wisely
Bidding is often won by those who know when to bid big, and when to pass. It’s important to assess the hand that you have and bid accurately. Do not overbid just to win the bid, as it’s much more beneficial to win the bid with a low number and secure those points.
Card Counting
Card counting is crucial to know how to play to win tricks. Knowing which cards have been played and which are likely remaining in play can be a game changer. Keep a mental note of how many of the trump suit and the same color of the trump suit are still in play to help you make a strategic play.
Leading with a Plan
When you lead the trick, try not to use up valuable high cards too early. Save these for when needed to win the trick. Try leading with the smaller cards in your hand first. Remember, the object is to win the trick, but you must be able to also secure the high value tricks too.
Working with Your Partner
If you’re playing with a partner, make sure to communicate effectively, and devise a strategy together. It is important for each partner to understand their responsibility in securing the bid.
Adapting Your Play
500 requires flexibility. Sometimes a hand might look good during bidding, and become bad once the game begins. Try to change your strategy as the game evolves. Be prepared to adjust and change strategy as the game progresses.
Remember, the more you play, the better you will get! Don’t be afraid to try different techniques, and understand the strengths and weaknesses of your play.
And there you have it – a comprehensive guide on how to play the card game 500! From understanding the basics, to playing a full round, to scoring, and strategizing, you now have the tools to enjoy this timeless card game. So gather some friends or family, grab a deck of cards, and get ready for some fun!
How To Play 500 (Card Game)
Final Thoughts
In short, the game involves bidding, taking tricks, and scoring points. Players aim to win bids by accurately estimating the number of tricks they can take. A player must win the exact number of tricks they bid in a given hand.
Bidding proceeds clockwise, with each player declaring a number of tricks plus a suit, or choosing to pass. The player making the highest bid becomes the declarer and chooses trumps. Correct counting and strategy are crucial to success.
Ultimately, knowing how to play the card game 500 means understanding bidding and trick-taking. Scoring is essential to declare a winner.
