You’ve probably seen a deck of cards sitting on a dusty shelf and thought about Poker or maybe a quick game of Speed. But if you grew up in Australia, or maybe parts of the American Midwest like Minnesota or Ohio, there is only one game that actually matters. It’s the 5 hundred card game. Honestly, it’s the perfect middle ground. It isn't as brain-meltingly complex as Bridge, but it has way more meat on its bones than Euchre.
It’s a trick-taking game that basically demands you have a bit of a "gambler’s soul" because the bidding process is where the real drama happens. You aren't just playing the cards you were dealt; you’re betting on how well you can manipulate the deck.
The game was actually popularized by the United States Playing Card Company back in the early 1900s. They literally copyrighted the rules in 1904. It was marketed as a social game, something to fill the gap for people who found Whist a bit too dry. Since then, it’s become almost a national sport in Australia. If you walk into a RSL club or a country pub in Victoria, you’ll likely see a group of four people arguing over whether a "Six Spades" bid was a stroke of genius or total insanity.
The Weird Deck and Why It Matters
Most people get confused the second they see the deck. For a standard four-player game of 5 hundred, you don’t use all 52 cards. You strip it down. You toss out the 2s, 3s, and 4s. Usually, you’re left with a 43-card deck.
And then there's the Joker.
In most games, the Joker is just a bookmark or something you throw away. In the 5 hundred card game, the Joker is the "Best Bird." It’s the highest trump card in existence. It beats everything. If you have the Joker and the "Right Bower" (the Jack of the trump suit), you’re basically a god at the table for that round.
But wait, it gets weirder. If you’re playing with three people, you use 33 cards. If it’s six people, you need a special deck that includes 11s and 12s. Yeah, those actually exist. Companies like Piatnik still print them specifically for 5 hundred fanatics. The logic is simple: the game scales. But for the sake of your sanity, let’s stick to the classic four-player partnership version. That’s where the strategy really shines.
How the Bidding Actually Works (And Why People Mess It Up)
Bidding is the heart of the 5 hundred card game. It’s not just about saying a number; it’s about signaling to your partner what you’ve got without actually cheating. You go around the table starting from the dealer’s left. You’re bidding on how many tricks you think your team can take, combined with the suit you want to be trump.
The lowest bid is Six Spades. The highest (standard) bid is Ten No Trumps.
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There is a very specific hierarchy here. It goes Spades, Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, then No Trumps. Why? Because the points scale that way.
- Six Spades is worth 40 points.
- Six Hearts is worth 100.
- Ten No Trumps is worth a massive 520 points.
The first team to reach 500 points wins. Hence the name. But if you lose your bid? You go "into the hole." If you bid 8 Hearts (300 points) and only take 7 tricks, you don't just get zero. You subtract 300 from your score. It is brutal. I've seen games where a team is at 450 points, gets greedy, misses a bid, and ends up at 150 while the other team catches up. It’s never over until someone hits that 500 mark.
Misere: The "I Have Terrible Cards" Strategy
Sometimes you look at your hand and it’s garbage. Absolute trash. You have a 2 of Spades, a 5 of Diamonds, and a bunch of low non-face cards. In most games, you’re just a spectator. In the 5 hundred card game, you can bid "Misere."
Misere (pronounced miz-air) is a French word for misery. It’s a bid where you promise to lose every single trick. If you take even one trick, you fail. An Open Misere is even crazier—you play with your cards face up on the table so everyone can see how to screw you over. It’s worth 250 points (or 500 for Open). It is the ultimate "flex" in the card-playing world.
The Kitty: The Secret Weapon
After the cards are dealt, there are three cards left over in the middle of the table. This is "the kitty" or the "talon." The person who wins the bid gets to take those three cards and add them to their hand. Then, they discard three cards they don’t want.
This is where the game is won or lost.
If you bid Seven Diamonds and pick up the Joker and the Ace of Diamonds from the kitty, you’re laughing. If you pick up three low cards in suits you already have, you’re probably in trouble. The kitty adds a layer of "hidden information" that makes the bidding a calculated risk rather than a mathematical certainty. You’re betting on the potential of those three face-down cards.
Breaking Down the Ranking of Trumps
This is the part that trips up beginners. Let’s say Hearts are trumps. The order of power isn't what you think.
- The Joker (The highest card)
- The Right Bower (Jack of Hearts)
- The Left Bower (Jack of Diamonds—the other Jack of the same color)
- Ace of Hearts
- King, Queen, 10, 9, etc.
The Left Bower is technically a Heart for the duration of that round. If someone leads a Heart, and all you have is the Jack of Diamonds, you must play it. If you don't, that’s "reneging," and it’s the fastest way to lose friends and the game. It’s a bit of a mental hurdle to remember that the Jack of Diamonds isn't a Diamond for those few minutes, but once it clicks, the strategy gets deep. You start counting cards. You realize your opponent hasn't played a trump yet, which means they’re holding the Left Bower for a sneak attack.
Why 5 Hundred Still Matters in 2026
In a world of hyper-fast video games and AI-generated entertainment, a game of 5 hundred feels grounded. It’s a social lubricant. It requires you to read the person sitting across from you. You have to trust your partner. There is no "perfect" way to play because the human element—the bluffing in the bid, the "table talk" (which is technically illegal but happens anyway), and the shared groan when the kitty is a bust—can't be replicated by an algorithm.
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It’s also surprisingly portable. You can play it on a plane, at a campsite, or during a blackout. It’s a "lifelong" game. You can learn it in an afternoon, but you’ll still be learning the nuances of a "Nullo" bid or a strategic lead ten years later.
Mastering the Game: Actionable Tips
If you want to actually win your next game night, stop playing like an amateur. Most people are too timid with their bidding.
- Trust the Kitty: If you have 4 or 5 strong cards in a suit, bid for 7. Assume the kitty will give you at least one card that helps or at least allows you to dump a "loser" card.
- Lead High Early: If you won the bid, you want to draw out the trumps. Don't let the defenders keep their small trumps to trump your Aces later. "Bleed" them dry.
- Watch Your Partner's Discards: If your partner throws away a high King of Spades, they’re telling you they’re "void" in that suit. They want you to lead it so they can trump it. Pay attention.
- The 43-Card Rule: Remember that since the 2s, 3s, and 4s are gone, the "average" card in the deck is much higher. An 8 is a low card in 5 hundred, whereas it’s a middle card in Poker. Adjust your expectations.
The next step is simple. Find a deck of cards. Take out the 2s, 3s, and 4s. Find three other people who don't mind a bit of healthy competition. The 5 hundred card game is best learned through the sting of losing a bid and the rush of a successful Misere. Get a score pad, keep the Joker in the deck, and start playing. Just remember: don't overbid on a "Seven No Trumps" unless you're holding the Joker. You'll thank me later.