Setback (game)
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Setback (also known as Pitch) is a trick-taking game somewhat similar to Spades.
Contents |
[edit] Object of the game
The object of Setback is to accumulate a predefined number of points (typically 11, 15 or 21) over the course of several hands.
[edit] Suit Ranking
The trump suit (determined by the highest bidder) is the highest suit. All other suits are equal.
[edit] Card Ranking
Setback is played with a single standard deck of playing cards. The rank order is A-K-Q-J-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2.
*** In two-player games cards 3, 4 and 5 are often removed because they lack points which count towards the game, and allows more face cards to be dealt to the two players. This creates a better game instead of having hands full of worthless cards.
[edit] The Deal
The starting dealer is selected by whatever means seems appropriate at the time, and continues clockwise from that point on. Six cards are dealt to each player (typically in groups of 2 or 3) face down and starting to the dealers left. The leftover cards are then placed to the dealers left, as they aren't needed for the rest of the hand.
[edit] Number of Players
Setback can be played with between two and eight players but is typically played with four in teams of two.
| 2, 3 | 4, 6, 8 | 5 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two and three player games are played without teams. | Four, Six and Eight player games are played with teams of two, with each player seated across from his teammate. | Five player games are played with one team of two and one team of three. The three player team is dealt a normal six card hand, while the two player team is dealt nine cards apiece. After the bid and trump is determined each player on the two player team discards three cards. Alternatively, a five player game called, "cut throat," is played without teams. | ? |
[edit] The Bid
Bidding begins to the dealers left. Each player bases his bid on the number of points he thinks he (and his teammate) can win during the hand. There is only one round of bidding and minimum is two. The player making the highest bid chooses trump and leads the first trick. If no bids are made the dealer ends up with an automatic two bid. The winning bidder must make his bid or the player/team loses the amount of the bid (gets set back).
[edit] The Points
There can be up to five different points, known as High, Low, Jack, Jick, and Game.
| High | Low | Jack | Jick (optional) | Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The "High" point is won by playing the highest trump card. | The "Low" point is won by playing the lowest trump card. This can also be won by winning the trick when the lowest trump card is played (this should be determined before play begins). | The "Jack" point is won by winning the trick when the Jack of the trump suite is played. | The "Jick" point is won by winning the trick when the Jick is played. The Jick is defined as the Jack of the same-color non-trump suite, and may also be referred to as the "Off Jack". In other words, if Hearts is trump then the Jack of the Diamonds is the Jick. The Jick is also considered a trump card so the Jack of Diamonds would be considered a Heart valued greater than a ten but less than a Jack. |
The "Game" point is awarded to the player or team who accumulated the most points for game over the course of the hand. The points for game are counted from the cards won during the hand. 10s = 10 Aces = 4 Kings = 3 Queens = 2 Jacks = 1 |
[edit] Determining Trump
The first card played by the winning bidder (the winning bidder leads the first trick) determines trump.
[edit] Exception: Card Trade-In
When using this rule non-trump cards can be traded in for new cards after the winning bidder determines trump. This rule can only be used in 2-4 player games because the deck might not contain enough cards to be swapped out in a larger game.
[edit] Exception: Non-Cut Throat 5 Player Game
Because the two person team must discard 3 cards apiece after trump is determined, the winning bidder must let them know what trump will be before playing a card.
[edit] Jokers
A variation of the game adds two point cards to the deck, a joker and "off joker" (in this case the "Jick" described above may also be called the "Off Jack"). This requires a deck of cards with two jokers, and the word "off" will be written on the face of one of the jokers. In this variation, the point cards in order are Ace, Jack, Off-Jack, Joker, Off-Joker, and Low; the joker and off-joker have a value of one towards the game point.
[edit] Game play
Play for free on-line at Shmear.com
[edit] Popular Pastimes within the Game
Popular pastimes within the game include claiming to have scored the point for "Low," in games where the point is scored simply by playing the lowest trump card. This maneuver is known as "calling low."
Also, the pile of unused cards rests beside the next dealer. Moving the pile midhand and claiming to have dealt last is another popular game within the game.
