Last Updated on March 4, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

Sergeant Major, also known as 3-5-8, is a trick-taking card game played with three players where the goal is to win a specific number of tricks based on your position in the game. The dealer must win at least five tricks, the second player must take three, and the third player must take eight. Players can pass cards to help or hinder their opponents, making strategy and adaptation key elements of the game. The player who consistently meets or exceeds their trick target gains an advantage, while others must adjust their play. Learn the rules, card-passing mechanics, and strategies to master Sergeant Major and win.

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How to Play Sergeant Major

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Objective

Win the most tricks (groups of cards played in a round) during a hand.

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Setup

1. Dealer Selection: Choose the first dealer randomly. In subsequent hands, the deal rotates clockwise.
2. Deck Shuffle and Deal: The dealer shuffles the deck and deals 16 cards to each player, four cards at a time. The remaining four cards form the kitty, placed face down in the center.
3. Choosing Trump and Discarding: The dealer selects a trump suit (clubs, diamonds, hearts, or spades). They discard any four cards face down and secretly replace them with the four kitty cards.

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Gameplay

1. Leading the Trick: The player to the dealer’s left starts the first trick by playing any card face up.
2. Following Suit: Players must follow suit if they can. If they have no cards in the led suit, they may play any card.
3. Winning the Trick: The highest-ranking card of the led suit wins unless a trump card is played.
   • If trump cards are played, the highest trump wins.
4. Continuing Play: The trick winner collects all played cards and leads the next trick.

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Target and Scoring

Each player aims to win a specific number of tricks based on the number of cards dealt:

• 16 Cards Dealt: Target = 8 tricks.
• 15 Cards Dealt: Target = 5 tricks.
• 14 Cards Dealt: Target = 3 tricks.

Scoring:

• Meeting the target = 0 points.
• Missing the target = +1 point per trick missed.
• Exceeding the target = +3 points per extra trick won.

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Deal and Exchange (Second and Subsequent Hands)

The deal rotates clockwise, and the exchange process changes:

• First place: Takes the top four kitty cards without discarding.
• Second place: Discards two cards and takes two from the kitty.
• Third place: Discards four cards and takes the remaining four from the kitty (or none if fewer remain).

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Winning the Game

Play for a set number of hands or until a player reaches a predetermined score (e.g., 10 points). The player with the lowest score at the end wins.

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Variations

Some versions allow players to bid or call “Meez” (declaring they won’t win any tricks) before the hand begins, adding extra strategy.

Sergeant Major is a game of luck and strategy. Play smart and aim to become the Sergeant Major!