remaining cards are dealt after the bidding — a group of three for each player except the player who got the card that was in the middle, who gets two. Bidding The possible contracts are: Clubs Diamonds Hearts Spades "No trumps" "All trumps" Every player must either suggest a higher contract, or bid: Pass Double (Coinchée, or Contré), if the current highest contract was not bid by the partner Re-double (Re-contra), if the other team have doubled bidder's or bidder partner's contract. Usually two levels of doubling are allowed. When doubling any contract, not only a bid in "all trumps", two levels are allowed. Some play it with a third level of doubling, which puts the whole match at stake. The bidding phase is over when one of the following becomes true: Four passes were announced Three passes were announced after a contract was suggested An "all trumps" contract is re-doubled Play The play consists of eight tricks, the first one being started by the dealer's successor. The first player in a round can play any card, but subsequent players must obey the following rules (the first one which applies is binding): The dominant suit must be followed. If the dominant suit is a trump suit, a higher-ranking card (if available) must be played, except when the current trick winner is the partner. If the dominant suit is not a trump suit and it cannot be followed, a trump suit card must be played. If the player does not have a trump card, they must play any other card but cannot win the trick. The winner of a trick starts the next trick. The last trick is a bit more significant, as its winner is awarded some points. The rank of the cards is different for trump and non-trump suits. The order is (from highest to lowest rank): In a trump suit: J 9 A 10 K Q 8 7 In a non-trump suit: A 10 K Q J 9 8 7 Declarations Declarations (melding) must be announced during the first trick: A tierce — a sequence of three (sequences are in the "A K Q J 10 9 8 7" order of the same suit) — is worth 20 points A quarte — a sequence of four — is worth 50 points. A quinte — a sequence of five — is worth 100 points (longer sequences are not awarded,