Bezique is a popular two-player card game that originated in Europe in the late 19th century. It uses a standard deck of 52 cards and requires a combination of strategy and luck to win. Follow these simple instructions to learn how to play Bezique and enjoy hours of fun with your friends and family.

Object of the Game: The goal of Bezique is to be the first player to reach 1000 points. Points are earned by collecting specific combinations of cards called “melds” and by winning “tricks” during each round.

Setup: Shuffle the deck of cards and deal 10 cards to each player. Place the remaining cards face down in the center of the table to form the draw pile. The top card of the draw pile is then turned face up to start the discard pile.

Card Values: In Bezique, the cards have different values:

• Aces are worth 11 points.
• Tens, Kings, Queens, and Jacks are worth ten points each.
• All other cards are worth their face value.

Melds: Melds are groups of cards that have a specific point value. These are the most important aspects of the game and are essential to winning. They are:

1. Bezique - The Queen of Spades and the Jack of Diamonds, worth 40 points.
2. Royal Marriage - The King and Queen of the same suit, worth 40 points.
3. Marriage - The King and Queen of different suits, worth 20 points.
4. Sequence - Three or more consecutive cards of the same suit, worth 20 points.
5. Trio - Three cards of the same rank, worth 20 points.
6. Flush - Five or more cards of the same suit, worth 10 points.
7. Pairs - Two cards of the same rank, worth ten points each.
8. Four Aces - Four Aces, worth 100 points.

Rounds: The game is played in rounds, with each round having three phases:

1. Discard: Each player selects up to three cards to discard and replaces them with the same number of cards from the draw pile. The player who goes first is determined by flipping a coin.
2. Play: The player who goes first lays down a meld or plays a card on their opponent’s meld. The second player then does the same, and the round continues until both players have played all their cards.
3. Trick: The player who has the higher-ranked card in a trick wins it. The winner of each trick leads the next one.

Ending the Round: The round ends when one player plays their last card or when the draw pile is empty. Points are then tallied, and the player who has the most points wins the round.

Scoring: At the end of each round, points are calculated based on the melds and tricks won by each player. The first player to reach 1000 points wins the game.

Tips:

• Keep an eye on which cards have been discarded and use that information to your advantage.
• Remember that Aces are worth the most points, so try to collect them in your melds.
• Don’t be afraid to break up your opponent’s melds by playing cards on them to prevent them from gaining points.

Now that you have learned the basic rules of Bezique, it’s time to gather your deck of cards and invite a friend to play. With practice and strategic thinking, you’ll soon become a master of this classic card game. Have fun and may the best player win!