Win tricks to claim shares of the pot. Avoid being “loo’d” (playing but failing to win a share), or you’ll have to replenish the pot for the next hand.
Use a standard 52-card deck.
Each player antes an equal stake into the pot.
The pot is divided into three equal shares.
Deal 3 cards face down to each player.
Turn one card face up from the deck. Its suit is trump.
After viewing their cards, each player in turn (starting left of dealer) must confirm if they are playing or folding:
Fold – sit out of the hand.
Play – stay in with their dealt hand.
Take a Dummy Hand – swap their cards for a dummy hand. A dummy hand automatically counts as in play.
If no one has entered the hand when action returns to the dealer, the dealer cannot play and the hand is over. Players ante up and the hand is redealt.
The first active player to the dealer’s left leads the first card.
Following suit is compulsory if able.
If unable to follow suit, a player may:
Play a trump card, which beats all non-trump cards.
Or discard any card (loses the trick).
Highest card of the suit led wins the trick, unless trumped. Highest trump wins the trick.
Winner of each trick immediately collects one third of the pot.
Continue until all three tricks have been played and the pot is divided.
Any player who played the hand but did not win a trick is loo’d.
A loo’d player (or players) must pay into the pot an amount equal to the full original pot.
If one or more players are loo’d, the pot is replenished and carried forward to the next deal.
In this case:
No fresh ante is required.
Only the players who were dealt cards in the last hand are back in for the free pot.
If nobody is loo’d, the next hand begins with everyone anteing again as normal.