Rook Cards

[Monty]

Rook's basic game strikes me as similar to Bridge or 500 in a number of ways. So, that leads me to wonder, "Are there any bidding conventions for this game?"

Also, what are some other fun games played with the Rook deck?

[DoctorJ]

For reasons I don't understand, Rook is ridiculously popular in eastern Kentucky. (My guess is that it has to do with the general religious frowning on regular playing cards, though there isn't much of that now.)

Each family or group of friends will have its own set of rules, but it is almost always played with two teams of two and with the 2s, 3s, and 4s removed from the deck. Ones are high (then 14, 13, etc.), and the Rook is the highest trump. Scoring is based on certain cards being worth points--usually the rook, 1, 14, 10, and 5.

There are no bidding conventions, at least not in any game I've played. Bidding is supposed to be individual, and any sort of communication between partners is not allowed.

[CalMeacham]

Also, what are some other fun games played with the Rook deck?

The booklet packed with my deck listed several games, including a few solitaire games I'd never seen with a regular deck.

[Spectre of Pithecanthropus]

Originally Posted by DoctorJ

(My guess is that it has to do with the general religious frowning on regular playing cards, though there isn't much of that now.)

.

I've wondered about this, since it's been mentioned elsewhere that those who object to standard cards for religious reasons don't seem to have a problem with alternatives like Rook, Flinch, Uno or the like.

The 52 regular playing playing cards correspond to the Lesser Arcana of a Tarot deck, with each of the Tarot suits parallel to either hearts, spades, clubs, or diamonds. Conceivably regular cards could be used in fortunetelling; is it this fact as much as the gambling that accounts for religious disapproval?

[Lok]

Originally Posted by DoctorJ

Ones are high (then 14, 13, etc.), and the Rook is the highest trump. Scoring is based on certain cards being worth points--usually the rook, 1, 14, 10, and 5.

Nonononono. No. Rook is Low trump. And is worth 20 points. If Rook is high, then no bids unless they have it. The 1s are worth 15, 14s and 10s are worth 10, the 5 is worth 5. 180 points total possible. We always felt it was more like euchre than anything else, since there was naming trump and picking up the kitty.

We also played a variant, 5 hand pick a partner. Everyone gets 8 cards instead of 10 and bids. High bid takes the kitty, creates his best hand, then calls a card. Whoever has that card is his partner, but no one knows who that is until the card is played. Some fun stuff can happen if the card doesn't show up for a while, since the other 3 don't know who is on their side.

We had some fun playing Rook in college.

Rook low, I can't believe some people.