How to Play Boonaken

Last Updated on January 20, 2026 by The Official Game Rules Team

Boonaken (also known as bonaken or boonaken) is a traditional Dutch point trick game that belongs to the wider jass family of card games. Played mainly in the Netherlands, it blends trick-taking mechanics with bold bidding, unusual contracts, and distinctive scoring that rewards both skill and nerve. Unlike many jass games, Boonaken focuses less on partnerships and more on individual risk, making each hand a tense contest of judgment and timing.

What sets the Boonaken game apart is its mix of standard number bids, special undertakings like Misère and Zwabber, and the dramatic Boonaak bid. Combined with roem scoring, trumps, and the constant threat of pluses and minuses, Boonaken delivers a fast-moving experience where every trick matters.

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Objective of the Game

The goal of Boonaken is not simply to score points, but to avoid becoming the overall loser. Players bid to take tricks, avoid tricks, or win all tricks depending on the contract. Success earns pluses, failure earns minuses, and two minuses mean defeat. Over the course of the game, players are gradually eliminated until one final player remains—the overall loser.

Cards, Ranks, and Point Values

Card Pack

Boonaken uses a 32-card pack consisting of:

Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7
In all four suits: hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades

Ranking of the Cards

In the trump suit:

Jack (boer) – highest trump
9 (nel)
Ace (aas)
King
Queen
10
8
7

In non-trump suits:

Ace
King
Queen
Jack
10
9
8
7

Point Values

Trump suit point values:

Jack (boer): 20
9: 14
Ace: 11
10: 10
King: 3
Queen: 2
8, 7: 0

Non-trump point values:

Ace: 11
10: 10
King: 3
Queen: 2
Jack: 1
9, 8, 7: 0

The total value of the cards is 141 points. Unlike some jass games, Boonaken does not award bonus points for the last trick.

Roem: Card Combinations and Extra Points

Certain combinations of cards, known as roem, score additional points.

Sequences (Consecutive Cards)

Cards must be of the same suit and count as consecutive cards in the order A-K-Q-J-10-9-8-7.

Three-card sequence: 20 points
Four-card sequence: 50 points
Five-card sequence: 100 points
Six-card sequence: 200 points

Four of a Kind

Four aces: 100 points
Four kings: 100 points
Four queens: 100 points
Four jacks: 200 points

Stuk

King and queen of trumps (stuk): 20 points

A card may be used in multiple combinations of cards. For example, K-Q-J-10 of trumps scores 50 points for the sequence plus 20 for stuk. The total value of the roem is added to trick points if not canceled by opponents.

Setup and Dealing

The dealer shuffles, and the dealer’s right cuts the deck. Play proceeds in clockwise rotation.

Each player receives six cards, dealt in two rounds of three. The exact handling of remaining cards depends on the number of players:

Five players: Two cards are placed face up in the center of the table after each round.
Four players: Two cards face down after the first round, two face up after the second. Remaining cards are set aside until the end of the hand.
Three players: Ten cards remain aside.
Two players: Sixteen cards remain aside.

The center cards may later be used by the declarer to improve their hand.

Bidding Phase

The player to the dealer’s left bids first. Players either pass or make a higher bid than the previous bidder.

Types of Bid

Number bid
A multiple of five, indicating the minimum number of points from declarer’s tricks plus roem. Includes a trump suit of choice.
Misère bids
An undertaking to lose every trick. No trumps apply. Misère ranks between standard number bids.
Zwabber
An undertaking to win every trick without trumps.
Boonaak bid
The highest bid. The declarer undertakes to win all tricks with a trump suit. A Boonaak may include a stated quantity of roem.

Players may not re-enter bidding once they pass. The highest bid becomes the final bid, and that player is the single declarer.

Exchanging the Center Cards

After bidding, the declarer takes the center cards and discards the same number face down. Discarded cards do not count toward point values or declarer’s roem.

If multiple players bid Misère, the first misère bidder exchanges first, followed by the second misère bidder, and so on.

Playing the Hand

Leading and Following

The declarer leads the first trick.
In Misère with multiple bidders, the first misère bidder leads.

Players must follow suit if possible. If unable, they may play a trump unless undertrumping rules apply. Some versions restrict undertrumping unless the player’s hand consists entirely of trumps.

Winning Tricks

With trumps: the highest trump wins.
Without trumps: the highest card of the suit led wins.

The queen of trumps, ace, and other high cards often determine momentum early in the hand.

Announcing Roem

Roem must be announced when leading to the first trick. Only the total value is declared, not the exact cards.

Opponents may announce opponent’s roem if they have equal or higher roem. If higher, the declarer’s roem is canceled.

Scoring

Number Bids

Add:

Total value of the cards in declarer’s tricks
Declarer’s roem (if not canceled)

If the total meets or exceeds the bid, the declarer is successful. Otherwise, they are unsuccessful.

Misère

Any misère bidder who takes no tricks is a winner
Any misère bidder who takes even a single card loses

Zwabber and Boonaak

The declarer must take all tricks. Failure means an immediate loss.

Pluses and Minuses

Successful declarer: plus sign in player’s column
Unsuccessful declarer: minus sign

Only the declarer receives a mark, except with misère bids.

Two pluses remove a player from the game as a winner. Two minuses make a player the overall loser.

A player with one plus and one minus is in wip. Their next result decides elimination or defeat.

Strategy Tips for Boonaken

Track high cards early, especially the highest trump and ace
Avoid overbidding without strong combinations of cards
Misère bidders should prioritize shedding dangerous suits early
Watch opponent’s roem announcements closely
Protect against losing the first trick when attempting zwabber or boonaak
Managing risk is more important than raw point values

Knowing when not to bid is just as important as knowing when to bid high.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is Boonaken a partnership game?

No. Boonaken is a single declarer game where players compete individually.

What is undertrumping?

Undertrumping refers to playing a lower trump when a higher one is available. Some versions restrict this unless a player’s hand contains only trumps.

What happens at the end of the hand?

Once all remaining cards are played, scoring is applied immediately based on the contract.

Is the last trick special?

o. Unlike some jass games, the last trick has no extra points.

How does a new game start?

In a new game, the player to the right of the previous loser deals the first hand.

Conclusion

The Boonaken card game is a deep, strategic member of the Dutch jass family that rewards bold bidding, careful play, and sharp judgment. With its mix of number bids, misère bids, zwabber, and the dramatic boonaak bid, every hand feels different and every decision carries weight. Whether you are aiming to master roem, avoid minuses, or simply survive until the final player, Boonaken delivers tension and excitement from the first trick to the end of the hand.

Official Boonaken Rules

How to Play Boonaken

Objective of the Game