Before play
- Name the game in the event setup and record the agreed variant or house rules in the event details.
- Confirm the deck, number of players, partnerships or seating, deal, first player, and direction of play.
- Agree how ties, misdeals, exposed cards, illegal plays, and players joining or leaving will be handled.
Scoring agreement
- Choose whether points are gained, lost, or treated as penalties, and whether the game ends at a target, after a fixed number of rounds, or on another condition.
- Decide which actions end a hand or round and who is responsible for confirming the score before the next deal.
- Use the flexible scorekeeper to enter a positive or negative change for every player or team after each round.
Table procedure
- Explain any unfamiliar rule before the first deal and resolve ambiguities consistently for the rest of the session.
- Keep played cards, captured tricks, melds, and the discard pile arranged so the result can be checked.
- If the table changes a rule, record the change in the event details before continuing.
Common house rules
- Target score or number of rounds
- Team or individual scoring
- Tie breaker
- Dealer rotation
- Misdeal and illegal-play remedy
- Late arrival or substitution rules