Pair

Please read the text below, or click on the Play button to watch the video.

A Pair consists of Two cards of the same rank and can be suited cards or Den cards.

When the Leader plays a Pair in a suit that is not designated as the Trump suit, all other players must play a Pair if they hold one. When any player holds a Pair of the same rank as the Lead, they must play it first, before any other Pair. The highest ranked Pair wins the Trick.

When the Leader plays a Pair and any player does not hold a Pair, they must first play the same ranked card as the Leader’s Pair if they hold it, together with any other card they choose.

If any player does not hold a Pair or hold the same ranked card as the Leader’s Pair, they may play any Two cards they choose.

Any Two Trump cards out-rank any Pair of suited cards.

Den cards played as Pairs maintain their rank.

When the Leader plays a Pair in a Trump suit, all other players must play a Pair of the same suit if they hold one. The highest ranked Pair wins the Trick.

If a player does not hold a Pair in the Trump suit, they must follow suit and play the equivalent amount of Trump cards. If they do not hold the equivalent amount of Trump cards, they must play any remaining Trump cards that they hold together with the same ranked card as the Leader’s Pair if they hold it. If they do not hold the same ranked card as the Leader’s Pair, they may play any other card they choose.

If a player’s Trump cards have been exhausted, they must play according to the rule regarding Lead Pairs in a suit not designated as a Trump suit, and play a Pair if they hold one. If any player does not hold a Pair or the same ranked card as the Leader’s Pair, they may play any Two cards they choose.

The equivalent amount of Trump cards does not outrank a Pair in a Trump suit.