Tarneeb, known as "rule" in the Arab Gulf states, is a popular card game across Arab countries, particularly in the Levant region. The primary objective of Tarneeb is to win consecutive rounds by outscoring opponents. The game is played with four players, forming two teams of two, where partners sit opposite each other at the table.
The game uses a standard 52-card deck, excluding jokers. The dealer distributes the cards starting from their right. The bidding phase begins with the player to the left of the dealer, and players bid from a minimum of 7 up to a maximum of 13, also known as "Cabot" or "livers." Bidding progresses clockwise, starting from the player to the dealer's right, and the highest bidder gets to choose the Tarneeb suit.
If a team fails to meet their bid, they lose points equivalent to the bid value. For example, if a team bids for 10 and only wins 9 tricks, they lose 10 points, while the opposing team gains points for the tricks they won, such as 4 points in this scenario. If the opposing team wins 5 tricks, any overbidding is exposed, leading to a deduction of points.
The game concludes when one team reaches a predetermined score, either 61 or 31 points, agreed upon before the start of the game.
The card hierarchy in Tarneeb is as follows: Ace (Cut), King (Sheikh), Queen (girl), Jack (born), followed by the numbers 10 through 2 in descending order.