Card Game 66 Rules
The card game 66 is played with a partial deck of only 24 cards (from nines to aces). The order of card ranks in ascending order: nine, jack, queen, king, ten, ace.
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Card Values
In this game, card points are counted as in the game of a thousand:
Ace is worth 11 points,
Ten – 10,
King – 4,
Queen – 3,
Jack – 2,
Nine is worth 0.
Trumps are determined randomly after the dealer deals 6 cards to each player. For each declared royal pair, consisting of a king and queen of the same suit, 20 points are awarded, and if you are lucky enough to discard the king and queen of the trump suit, you get 40 points.
Points are counted for a player only if the player has taken at least one trick. For a won trick, the player receives as many points as the sum of the values of the cards taken. For example, if you take a king and a jack with a ten, you will get 4+2+10=16 points in total.
How Many Players Play?
It is most convenient to play with two players, but 3 or 4 friends can also play.
What is the Goal of the Game Sixty-Six?
By taking tricks, collect a certain number of points as quickly as possible. Indeed, the winner is the one who collects exactly 66 points. The point counting is interesting and special because the players themselves have to count the points in their minds and notify their game partners when they have collected the required amount. It is worth mentioning that it is important to keep track of not only your own but also your opponent's points, as it is very easy to cheat.
Card Game 66
First, the dealer thoroughly shuffles the cards, allows another player to cut them, and deals 6 cards to each player – 3 times 2 cards each.
The top card of the remaining undealt deck shows the trumps. It is turned face up, placed on the table, and covered with the same undealt deck.
Let's Start!
The game is started by the player sitting to the left of the dealer. They place any desired card. The trick goes to the player who placed the highest value card. All cards can be taken with any value trump, and trump cards can be taken with higher value cards of the same trump suit. The player who wins the trick takes the top card of the deck.
Then, each player takes one card from the deck so that they have 6 cards in their hands again. The new turn is started by the player who won the trick.
If players discard cards of the same value, for example, a jack and a jack, the trick is won by the first player who placed the card. If more players are playing, they can take both jacks with a queen, king, ten, or ace.
Pairs
A player has the right to play with pairs only when they have already won at least one trick. Also, when they start the trick first. This means that responding with a queen or king does not “play” together and does not form a pair.
When declaring a pair of face cards, the player must first place the queen in the trick, and other players can demand to see the king to ensure that the game partner is not lying. As mentioned before, for a declared pair of queen and king, players receive an additional 20 or 40 points, even if they do not win the trick.
Exchange
A player holding the lowest value card – a nine – has the right to exchange it once during the game for the trump card turned face up on the table. The exchange is possible only if at least one game has been won and at least one successful trick has been made during that game.
Don't Forget to Count!
The player who wins the trick must mentally calculate its value and then place the cards in their trick pile. These cards cannot be looked at again, so the number of points collected must be remembered very well.
Closing
As long as the card pool is not exhausted, it is not necessary to take the placed card with a card of the same suit or a trump card. For example, if you discard a club queen, your opponent can win the trick by discarding a spade king. When the cards run out and the pool is exhausted, the rules become stricter, and the game becomes more interesting!
Players with the last cards must respond only with cards of the same suit, and if they do not have such cards – then with trumps. For example, if you discard a club queen, your opponent will win the trick by discarding only a club king, ten, ace, or any trump card.
Winning 
As soon as a player counts that they have collected all 66 points, they must announce it with a pre-agreed word, for example, “Now!”, “Sixty-six!” or “Done!”.
If, upon checking the player's cards, it turns out that they were mistaken or lied, the player immediately loses.
If players discard all the cards, but no one collects 66 points, the game is won by the player who takes the last trick of the game.
New Point Calculation
To make the game even more interesting, you can organize a tournament and count points slightly differently after each deal, for example:
A player gets 1 point if the opponent collects 33 or more points;
A player gets 2 points if the opponent won at least one trick but collected less than 33 points;
The player gets 3 points if the opponent fails to take a single trick;
The winner is the one who first collects 7 points.
Card Game 66 – Different Game Variants:
The main difference in this variant is that instead of 24 cards, the game is played with a deck of 20 cards, discarding all nines.
Players are also dealt fewer cards – 5 each.
Special Rules –
In this game, the exchange is done with the trump jack. If the last cards are dealt, the winner of the trick during the closing receives a 10-point bonus.
The “marriage” of the queen and king with trump cards is only possible when the last cards are dealt.
This variant of the game is considered slightly more difficult than the usual one and is sometimes called by the local Austrian and Hungarian name Schnapskarten. Additionally, special decks with fewer cards have been created for this game.
- „Four-Hand and North American 66“
This variant is also played with a deck of 24 cards. The game is played by 2, 3, or 4 players (in pairs). Players sit opposite each other and place bets. Points are accumulated in parts – 33 each.
Betting
In this variant, players bet on how many points they will be able to collect during one round. The player sitting to the left of the dealer starts first.
Each player must bet an increasing number of points or pass (passing is allowed only once). Additionally, if your partner bets 1 and you bet 2, your final bet becomes 2.
5 Betting Variants –
- 1 bet – 33 points. It is advisable to bet 1 if the player has an ace or a ten and two other cards of the same suit and knows or decides the trump suit. If the player has a pair of queen and king, they can reach a total of 40 points, so in any case, they win.
- 2 bets – 66 points. This is slightly more than the total value of the deck. To bet 2, you need to have at least one pair of king and queen (40 points). It is likely that your game partner will have at least 26 points to win the bet.
- 3 bets – 99 points. Quite risky, but possible with a pair of trumps – queen and king.
- 4 bets – 132 points. Players rarely choose this bet because the entire deck has only 120 points. Additional points can only be collected with pairs.
- 5 bets are called “Moon” or “Solo Game”. The game partner passes, and the remaining player plays alone.
Tricks
The player who declares the highest number of points wins the bet and starts the game. The trump card becomes the one with which the game begins. Players must follow the suit and if they have a higher value card of the same suit, they must play it. If not, they play with trumps.
In this case, it is possible to force the opponent to discard all trump cards, while you discard worthless cards, such as nines. If you do not have a card of the same suit or a trump card, you can play any card.
Scoring
One suit has 30 points, and the entire deck has 120, so the card values are the same as in the traditional “Sixty-Six”. Additional points are also awarded for pairs of queen and king. The team that wins the bet counts their points first.
It is important to note that if the pair – queen and king – were not shown during the game, their points are not counted. Winning the bet adds an additional number of points, if not – points are subtracted.
A Brief History and Origins of the Game 66
The roots of the card game 66, also known in German as Sechsundsechzig, trace back to Central Europe. It is believed to have originated in the 17th century, possibly derived from other traditional trick-taking games played in the region.
The game gained popularity in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, especially in the territories of present-day Austria and Hungary. Over time, the game of 66 evolved, slightly changing its rules and playing style, and became a favorite pastime for many.
Popularity and Geographical Spread Over Time
Initially confined to Central Europe, 66 gradually spread to neighboring countries, including Germany, the Czech Republic, and Poland. Due to its simplicity and engaging gameplay, it became popular among various age groups.
By the 19th century, the game had reached other parts of Europe and even made its way to the United States with immigrants who brought their card-playing traditions.
Today, the game of 66 is played in various forms and remains popular in Europe, especially in German-speaking countries and regions with a close historical connection to the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
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