In Arab countries, particularly in the Levant, the card game known as Tarneeb, or "rule" in the Arab Gulf states, is a popular pastime. The essence of Tarneeb is to secure consecutive wins in Tarneeb groups, making it a strategic and engaging game. Played by four individuals, the players form two teams, with each pair sitting opposite each other. The game continues through several rounds until one team emerges victorious.
Tarneeb utilizes a standard 52-card deck, excluding Jokers. The game begins with the dealer distributing the cards, starting from the player to their right. The bidding process, which is central to Tarneeb, starts with the player to the dealer's left. Players bid on the number of tricks they believe their team can win, starting from a minimum of 7 up to a maximum of 13. The highest bidder then chooses the trump suit, known as "Tarneeb."
If a team fails to meet their bid, they are penalized. For instance, if a team bids to win 10 tricks but only secures 9, they lose points equivalent to the number of tricks they bid for (10 points in this case), while the opposing team gains points for the tricks they won. In this example, if the opposing team won 5 tricks, they would score 5 points.
The game concludes when one team reaches a predetermined score, either 61 or 31, depending on prior agreement among the players.
The card hierarchy in Tarneeb is as follows:
- A (Ace, referred to as "Cut")
- K (King, referred to as "Sheikh")
- Q (Queen, referred to as "girl")
- J (Jack, referred to as "born")
- Followed by the numbers 10 down to 2 in descending order.
This game not only tests players' strategic thinking but also their ability to work effectively as a team, making Tarneeb a beloved and challenging card game across Arab regions.
