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Download on Google Play- Use a 32-card deck (7 through Ace) for 4 players in partnerships.
- Deal 8 cards to each player.
- Call a trump suit or pass; if all pass, dealer must call.
- Follow suit if possible; must play trump if unable to follow.
- Must overtrump if trump has been played and you can.
- Calling team wins 5+ tricks: 1 point per trick above 4.
- Calling team fails: defenders score 2 points plus 1 per trick above 4.
- Sweep (all 8 tricks): bonus 4 points.
Rules
Troefcall is a Dutch trick-taking game where the trump suit is determined through a calling process rather than a random draw. Players evaluate their hands and bid for the right to name the trump suit, making hand assessment a critical skill.
Objective
Win the majority of tricks by choosing the right trump suit and executing strong trick play. The calling team must take a minimum number of tricks to avoid losing points.
Setup
- Players: 4 players in two partnerships.
- Deck: 32-card deck (7 through Ace).
- Deal: Deal 8 cards to each player.
Gameplay
- Calling: Starting left of the dealer, each player may pass or call a trump suit. The first player to call determines trump. If all pass, the dealer must call.
- Trick play: The player left of the dealer leads. Follow suit if possible; if unable, you must play trump if you have it. Otherwise, play any card.
- Overtrumping: When trump has been played on a trick, subsequent players must play a higher trump if they can.
- Winning tricks: The highest trump wins, or the highest card of the led suit if no trump was played.
Scoring
- Calling team wins 5+ tricks: Score 1 point per trick above 4.
- Calling team fails (fewer than 5 tricks): Defending team scores 2 points plus 1 per trick they won above 4.
- Sweep (all 8 tricks): The winning team scores a bonus of 4 points.
Variations
- Forced Troefcall: If all players pass in the first round, a second round allows calling any suit with a reduced reward.
- Solo Troefcall: A player may call solo, playing alone against the other three for double stakes.
Tips and Strategies
- Only call trump when you have at least four cards in that suit, including high cards.
- As the calling team, lead trump early to draw out opponents' trump and establish control.
- Defenders should try to force the caller to use trump on side-suit tricks, weakening their trump holding.
Tips & Strategy
Calling trump requires courage and good judgment. A strong four-card trump suit with side-suit support is the minimum for a confident call.
Partnership coordination is essential. When your partner calls trump, support them by leading side suits where they might be able to trump, and protect their lead by playing high cards in their weak suits.
Trivia & Fun Facts
The word 'Troef' means 'trump' in Dutch, making Troefcall literally 'trump call' — a perfectly descriptive name for the game's central mechanic.
What does the Dutch word 'Troef' mean in English?
History & Culture
Troefcall is a traditional Dutch game that has been played in the eastern and southern Netherlands for generations. It combines elements of several European trick-taking traditions.
Troefcall represents the Dutch tradition of accessible yet strategically deep partnership card games, commonly played in homes and at community gatherings in the Netherlands.
Variations & House Rules
Forced Troefcall ensures every hand is played by requiring a second calling round. Solo Troefcall lets confident players challenge everyone else for doubled rewards.
Add a misere option where a player can bid to take zero tricks, or introduce a minimum trick threshold that must be exceeded for the call to succeed.
