Piquet
An old two-player game of declarations and trick play using a shortened deck.
Setup
Use 7-A in each suit. Deal 12 cards each and leave 8 as the talon.
How to Play
- Players exchange cards with the talon.
- Declare point, sequences, and sets.
- Then play tricks, following suit if possible.
- Score declarations and trick points.
How to Win
Highest score after the agreed number of hands wins.
Exchange with a plan; declarations can matter as much as tricks.
Is Piquet Right for You?
Piquet is a centuries-old two-player game of melds and tricks, prized for its blend of card-combination scoring and tactical play across a six-deal partie. Reach for it when two players want one of the deepest historical two-hand games in existence.
Maybe skip it if: The exchange, declaration sequence, and archaic scoring terms make the first few games genuinely confusing.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Botching the declaration order: point, then sequences, then sets, each only scoring if it beats the opponent's best.
- Forgetting the bonuses, repique and pique, that can swing a hand before a single trick is even played.
Strategy Tips
- Plan your discard to build the longest point and sequence, since carte blanche and big sequences score heavily before play.
- Track declared cards to know which of your cards are now winners in the trick-taking phase.
Popular Variations
Piquet au Cent
The classic version played to 100 points over a six-deal partie, with the trailing player getting the rubicon penalty if they fail to reach 100.
Auction Piquet
A 20th-century variant adding a bidding phase, popular in England for adding a wager-like edge.
Our Take
We regard Piquet as the connoisseur's two-player game, a beautiful marriage of rummy-like melding and trick-taking with real history behind it. It rewards the patience to learn its rituals more than almost any other duel game.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you score in Piquet?
Points come from combinations declared before play (point for longest suit, sequences, and sets of three or four), then from tricks and bonuses like the cards majority, all toward a 100-point partie.
What is repique?
If a player scores 30 or more in declarations alone before play begins, while the opponent scores nothing, they earn a 60-point repique bonus.