Last Updated on April 9, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

Bezique is a classic two-player card game that combines elements of trick-taking and melding. Played with a standard 52-card deck, players aim to score points by forming specific card combinations called “melds” and winning tricks. The game’s strategic nature makes it both challenging and engaging. Perfect for competitive pairs, Bezique offers a rich and rewarding experience for card game enthusiasts.

It has some similarities to the two player version of the American game Pinochle.

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How to Play Bezique

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Objective

The main goal of Bezique is to score points by creating “melds” (specific combinations of cards) and by winning tricks. The first player to reach a predefined score, typically 1000 points, wins the game.

Setup

• Players: 2 players (Bezique is a two-player game).
• Deck: A standard 52-card deck is used. In some variations, the game may use a deck with two 52-card decks shuffled together.
• Card Values:
  • Aces, 10s, Kings, Queens, and Jacks are worth 10 points each.
  • Cards 9 through 2 are worth their face value (e.g., 9 is 9 points, 2 is 2 points).
• Dealing: The dealer shuffles the deck and deals 8 cards to each player. The remaining cards form the stockpile, placed face-down in the center.

Card Melding (Scoring Combinations)

The game revolves around creating “melds,” which are combinations of cards that score points. Players can form the following melds:

• Bezique: A meld of a Queen and a Jack of the same suit. This is the highest-scoring meld, worth 40 points.
• Marriage: A King and Queen of the same suit, worth 20 points.
• Sequence of 4 Cards (Run): A series of four cards in consecutive order of the same suit (e.g., 9-10-J-Q-K of hearts), worth 10 points.
• Set of 4 Cards (Four of a Kind): Four cards of the same rank (e.g., four 10s), worth 20 points.
• Players can meld their cards when they can lay down one or more of these combinations, either all at once or during their turn.

Game Play

The game proceeds in turns, and each turn consists of the following phases:

• Draw Phase:
  • On a player’s turn, they begin by drawing two cards from the stockpile. If the stockpile is empty, players will only draw one card each time until the end of the game.
• Meld Phase:
  • After drawing, a player may lay down any melds they have. This phase is optional, but melding earns points.
• Trick Phase (Taking Tricks):
  • The player who did not deal begins the trick by playing a card from their hand.
  • The opponent must follow suit if they can, but if they cannot, they may play any card.
  • The winner of the trick is the player who played the highest card of the suit that was led. If a trump suit is designated, the highest trump card wins the trick.
  • The winner of the trick collects both cards and places them in their “won tricks” pile.
• Ending the Round:
  • A round ends when all cards in the stockpile have been drawn and played. Players may have one last chance to meld at the end of the round.

Scoring

• After each round, players score points based on the following:
  • Points from melds they have laid down during their turn.
  • Points from tricks they have won.
  • The winner of the round is the player with the most points, which is usually the player who completed more melds and won more tricks.
• The scores are tallied at the end of the round, and the game continues with new rounds until one player reaches 1000 points, or any predetermined winning score.

Winning the Game

• The first player to reach 1000 points (or the agreed-upon target score) wins the game. This player is the winner of the game, having successfully melded cards and won enough tricks to secure the victory.

Strategy Tips

• Meld Early: Lay down your melds as soon as possible to earn points and limit your opponent’s chances of capturing those cards later in the round.
• Control the Trump Suit: If the game allows for a trump suit, use it strategically to win tricks, especially when you don’t have a high card in the leading suit.
• Save Cards for Melding: Don’t be too quick to use high cards for tricks if they might form part of a higher-scoring meld later. If you already have a King and Queen of the same suit, holding onto other cards from the suit might allow you to form a marriage or other high-value meld.
• Watch the Stockpile: Keep track of the stockpile and try to determine when it’s running low so you can anticipate the end of the round. Be prepared to lay down any last-minute melds.

Variations

Bezique has many variations, and some may use two decks of cards or allow specific additional melds or points. Check the rules before playing to understand any house rules or regional differences.

1. Rubicon Bezique

This is the most common and widely played version of Bezique, played with two 32-card decks (removing cards below 7).

• Winning Score: The first player to reach 1,500 points wins. If neither player reaches this by the end of the game, the winner is the one with the highest score.
• Rubicon Rule: If a player fails to reach 1,000 points before the end of the game, they are considered “rubiconed,” meaning their opponent gets bonus points.
• Trump Suit: The trump suit is determined at the beginning of the game by turning up a card from the stockpile.

2. Two-Handed Bezique

This is the original version of the game, played with a single 64-card deck (two standard 32-card decks combined).

• Scoring: Follows standard Bezique scoring with melds like “Bezique” (Q♠ and J♦ worth 40 points).
• Gameplay: Players try to reach a target score, usually 1,000 or 1,500 points.

3. Three-Handed Bezique

A three-player variation played with a 96-card deck (three 32-card decks).

• Setup: Each player is dealt 9 cards, and the remaining cards form the stockpile.
• Trick-Taking: The game follows the standard Bezique rules, but players must be mindful of two opponents instead of one.

4. Four-Handed Bezique (Partnership Bezique)

A four-player game played in partnerships, using two 32-card decks (64 cards in total).

• Partnership Play: Teammates sit opposite each other and share a combined score.
• Gameplay: Players must communicate subtly and plan their melds and trick-taking strategies together.

5. Six-Handed Bezique

A variation played with six players, using three 32-card decks (96 cards total).

• Teams: Players can play individually or in teams of three.
• Scoring: The game follows similar meld and trick-taking rules but requires more coordination in larger groups.

6. Pinochle

Pinochle is a well-known American variation of Bezique that became more popular in the U.S.

• Deck: Uses a 48-card deck (double 9-A set).
• Melds: Scoring follows a modified version of Bezique’s system, but trick-taking plays a more dominant role.
• Winning: The game is usually played to 1,000 points.

By combining meld-building and trick-taking strategies, Bezique provides an exciting and deep challenge for card game lovers.