How to Play - Callbreak
Callbreak Game commonly known as Lakdi or Call Bridge among the Indian mass is a thrilling trick-taking card game played with 52 cards. The game is usually played by 4 players and the aim is simple: win the number of tricks (hands) you bid before the round begins in every game.
Game Setup
- Players: The game is usually played within 4 players, either human or bots from India or globally
- Cards Used: Standard 52-card deck
- Card Ranking: A (highest), K, Q, J, 10, 9, … 2 (lowest)
- Trump Suit: Always Spades
Rules of Play
- Card Dealing: Each player is dealt 13 cards.
- Bidding (Call): Before playing starts, each player must call (declare) the number of hands they expect to win in the round. This is called a “bid.”
- Gameplay:
- The player next to the dealer starts the first trick.
- Players must follow the same suit if they have the relevant suits. If not, they can play any card or possibly one from the Trump suit.
- The highest card of the leading suit wins the trick, unless a Spade (trump card) is played. If multiple Spades are played, the highest Spade wins.
- Scoring:
- If you win at least the number of hands you called, you get points equal to your bid.
- For every extra trick won, you gain +0.1 points.
- If you fail to meet your bid, you lose points equal to the whole bid.
Scoring Rules
- Meeting Your Call:
- If you win at least the number of tricks you called, you score points equal to your bid.
- Example: If you call 4 and win 4 tricks, you earn 4 points.
- Winning Extra Tricks:
- Every additional trick you win beyond your call gives you +0.1 skill points.
Example: If you call 3 but win 5 tricks, you score:- 3 points (for meeting your call)
- +0.1 × 2 = +0.2 skill points
- Total = 3.2 points
- Failing Your Call:
- If you win fewer tricks than your call, you lose points equal to your call.
- Example: If you call 5 but win only 3 tricks, you lose the whole call points i.e. -5.
Winning the Game
The Callbreak card game is usually played in 3 or 5 rounds. . At the end, the player with the highest total score after the completion of all rounds is declared the winner.
Winning Tips
- Call wisely - don’t overestimate your hand.
- Save your Spades for crucial moments.
- Pay attention to opponents’ bids to guess their strategies.
- Use spare cards (low rank ones 2,3,4 etc.) to bring out the big cards of the opponents (A,K), so that you can win with (Q, or J) later.