LivingRoom Nest

How to play

Bid for the nest, name a colour, take the tricks. The same rules are in the app, under Rules on the home screen.

1. The game

   Four players in two teams, partners across the table. The first team to 300 wins, or 500 for a longer game.

2. The deck

   Fifty-seven cards: one to fourteen in four colours, plus the Bird. The 1 is the high card, above the 14.

3. The deal

   Thirteen cards each, and five face down in the middle: the nest.

4. The bidding

   Starting left of the dealer, bid or pass, in fives from seventy. A pass is final. When three have passed, the last player in takes the bid.

5. The nest

   The winner takes the five nest cards in, names a colour as trump, and puts any five back down. Those five count for their team at the end.

6. The Bird

   The highest trump, and it may be played at any time — even when you could follow the colour led. It is the rule people argue about, and this is the one the game plays by.

7. Taking tricks

   Follow the colour led if you can. Trump takes; failing that, the highest card of the colour led. The bidder leads the first trick.

8. Counting up

   Every 5 is 5, every 10 and 14 is 10, the Bird is 20 and the last trick is 20: 140 in a hand. Make your bid and you score what you took; fall short and you lose the bid.