How to play 3-5-8
Three players compete through three rounds, one deal each. Highest cumulative tricks above quota wins.
- Players
- 3
- Seats
- Human, AI only, or AI allowing human takeover
How to play
Deal sixteen cards each and leave a four-card kitty. Dealer targets eight tricks, the player to their left five, and the third player three.
The dealer chooses one of four trump suits, discards four cards and receives the kitty. The player to the dealer’s left leads. Follow suit if possible; otherwise any card is legal. Highest trump wins, or highest led-suit card if there is no trump.
Each round scores tricks taken minus that seat’s quota. Deal rotates clockwise. Before the next trump choice, over-quota players exchange an unwanted card for each owed trick with under-quota players; the recipient automatically returns their highest card in the offered suit.
When two players are owed cards, the one with the larger upcoming quota exchanges first. This site uses a fixed three-round match; a tied top score is a draw.
Seats and spectators
Configure each other seat when creating a table. Waiting human seats delay the deal until filled. AI seats allow human takeover by default: open Watch, then Join seat. You inherit the current position and hand. AI only keeps the computer in that seat.
Beginner strategy
- Consider what the other players can play before committing your strongest piece or tile.
- Use the highlighted legal moves, and keep an eye on the current player and score.