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Download on Google Play- 4 players use a standard 52-card deck.
- Deal 13 cards to each player.
- Two suits are designated as preference suits for higher-ranked bids.
- Bid on tricks you will win (5 to 13); highest bidder plays alone.
- Bid suit becomes trump; follow suit if possible.
- After 13 tricks, check if the bidder met their commitment.
- Making your bid: collect payment from each opponent.
- Failing your bid: pay each opponent based on how many tricks short.
- Bidding and winning all 13 tricks yields maximum payout.
Rules
Boston is an elaborate trick-taking card game that emerged in France during the late eighteenth century, reportedly named after the city of Boston during the American Revolution. It features a complex bidding system where players commit to winning a specific number of tricks, with escalating rewards and penalties.
Objective
Win the number of tricks you bid, or more. Failing to meet your bid results in penalties, while succeeding earns you payments from the other players.
Setup
- Players: 4 players.
- Deck: Standard 52-card deck.
- Deal: Each player receives 13 cards.
- Preference suits: Two suits are designated as 'preference' suits, which rank higher in bidding.
Gameplay
- Bidding: Players bid on the number of tricks they will win (from 5 up to 13). Higher bids in preference suits outrank equal bids in plain suits.
- Solo play: The highest bidder plays alone against the other three.
- Trick taking: Standard trick-taking rules with the bid suit as trump. Players must follow suit if possible.
- Counting: After all 13 tricks are played, the bidder checks whether they met their commitment.
Scoring
- Making your bid: Receive payment from each opponent based on the level of your bid.
- Failing your bid: Pay each opponent a penalty that increases with the number of tricks you fell short.
- Grand slam: Bidding and winning all 13 tricks yields the maximum payout.
Variations
- Boston de Nantes: A regional French variant with modified bid levels and additional bonus declarations.
- Russian Boston: Features partnership play and altered preference suit rules.
Tips and Strategies
- Be conservative in your bidding until you understand the distribution of cards at the table.
- Count your sure tricks carefully before bidding. Overcommitting by even one trick can be very costly.
Tips & Strategy
Count your guaranteed winners before placing a bid. Having long trump suits is valuable, but also consider your ability to control side suits to prevent opponents from cashing winners.
The preference suit system creates interesting bidding dynamics. Sometimes bidding in a preference suit with a mediocre hand beats a strong hand bid in a plain suit.
Trivia & Fun Facts
The game of Boston was so closely associated with the American Revolution that playing it was considered a political statement of support for the colonial cause in some European circles.
During which major historical event was the card game Boston reportedly named?
History & Culture
Boston appeared in France during the 1770s and was named in sympathy with the American revolutionary cause. It was one of the most popular card games in Europe until the rise of Whist and Bridge.
Boston represents a fascinating intersection of card gaming and political history. Its naming and popularity reflected the era's revolutionary spirit and transatlantic cultural connections.
Variations & House Rules
Boston de Nantes added regional French flair with extra bidding levels, while Russian Boston introduced team play and became a staple of Russian card culture.
Scale the payment table to suit your group's risk appetite. Some groups also allow a 'misere' bid where the player commits to winning zero tricks.
