Six Bid

Six Bid is a relative of Skat, once popular among German immigrants to America in the 19th century. This game is also known as ‘Six Bid Solo’, ‘Solo’, ‘Slough’ or ‘Sluff’ and is especially suited to three players.

The Cards

One short pack of 36 cards, achieved by removing all the 5s and down. Cards rank A, 10, K, Q, J, 9, 8, 7, 6 in each suit.

For the purposes of counting the value of cards captured in tricks;
A = 11, 10 = 10, K = 4, Q = 3, J = 2.
This gives 30 points in each suit, 120 points over the whole deck.

The Deal

Each player is dealt 11 cards in batches 4 – 3 – 4 with 3 cards dealt face down to the center immediately before the last batch of 4 – the Blind.

Objective

Whoever names the highest valued game plays it against the combined efforts of the other two.

From lowest to highest the bids are

Solo: Bidder undertakes to win at least 60 points of the 120 pips available, announcing any suit as trumps except Hearts.

The Blind remains unseen, but any pips it may contain are credited to the bidder at the end of the hand.

Hearts Solo: as for Solo, but Hearts are trumps.

Misére: Playing no trump, the bidder underakes to lose every trick. The Blind remains out of play.

Guarantee Solo: Bidder undertakes to capture at least 74 points with Hearts as trumps, or 80 points if any other suit as trumps.

Spread Misére: As for misere, only here the bidder plays with his/her hand exposed so that all other players may see it.

Call Solo: The bidder calles trumps, and undertakes to win all 120 pips. The player doesn’t have win every trick, just every point-value card. Any cards in the Blind belong to the bidder.

Bidding

The player at the dealer’s left bids or passes. If he/she bids, the next in turn may overbid or pass. If he/she overbids, the first player then may either overbid or pass. The next in turn after that, will bid against the survivor of these two. If all pass, the cards are thrown and the deal proceeds to the left.

The Play

The opening lead is made by the player left of the dealer, except in Spread Misére, where it is made by the player to the Bidder’s left. The winner of the trick leads to the next.

Rules

• Follow suit to the card led, if possible
• If you can’t follow suit, then you must play a trump.
• If unable to follow suit, and unable to trump, you can play any card
• The trick is won by the highest trump played to it. If no trumps are played, the trick is won by the highest card of the suit led.

Score

The Bidder, if successful, receives the appropriate amount in points or chips from each opponent. And if not successful, the Bidder pays the appropriate amount to each player.

Game

Six Bid is played over an agreed to number of hands, that being a multiple of the number of players. This ensures that each player has the same number of deals. At the end of the designated number of deals, the player with the most chips wins the game.

L I N K S

Rules for Six Bid Solo - Card Games Website
How to Play Six Bid Solo - Cats at Cards