Where are the Forty-Fives players?
Gus
like to know where it is played, and any unique rules
you play by. There is a strong pocket in northeastern
Massachusetts. The ranking of cards are:
5*,Jack*,Ace of Hearts,Ace*,King*,Queen*,10-2(red)* or 2-10(black)*
*of suit (Ace of diamonds is low when not suit)
It is often played with partners, but can be played "cut-throat".
Players are dealt 5 cards, and they must be dealt 2 and 3 cards
at a time (usually 3 to everyone, then the kitty of 3, then 2 more
to everyone). Any info. is appreciated (and thanks Conor for your
last post!).
-Gus
Doug Reynolds
I'm located in southeastern Massachusetts (near Brockton), and know of
very few people that play 45's. However, I do have a few friends that
love to play, and consistent with your statement, they are originally
from Andover (for those not familiar with Massachusetts, that's in the
northeastern part of the state). From what they tell me, they had a
bunch of friends in Andover that were 45's fanatics. This is really a
great social game, because there is a decent amount of strategy, but at
the same time, it's not as heavy as bridge. Games go fairly quickly, so
you don't need to devote a whole evening to it (although we frequently do!).
We much prefer playing with four players in partnership. However, it
does work fairly well as a three-handed game, with each player acting
independently. In the three-handed version, each hand usually ends up
being the high bidder against the other two players.
The rules that we use are very similar to what you describe, with one
exception being that Ace of Diamonds is always high. Additional rules are:
* Scoring is 5 points per trick, plus an additional 5 points for the highest
card of the hand. Therefore, each hand is worth a total of 30 points.
* Game ends when one partnership (or player) reaches 120 points. However,
if both partnerships (or two players) reach 120 on the same hand, the winner
is the one that was high bidder, even if they do not necessarily have the
higher score. Example: high bidder gets 120, opponents get 130 - the side
with 120 wins.
* There is only one round of bidding. I don't know if this is unique or not,
but I think my Hoyle's book indicates that bidding continues until all
players pass.
* The player to the left of the dealer opens the bidding. Minimum bid is 15,
and subsequent bids must be higher than the previous high bid (or pass). If
all players pass, the dealer is forced to bid. You make your bid if you
take at least as many points as your bid. If the bid is not made, the
amount of the bid is subtracted from your score (and no credit is given
for the tricks taken).
* There is an option of bidding "30 for 60". Normally, a player looks at
his / her cards, and bids with a particular trump suit in mind (the suit
is only named once that player has become high bidder). However, with
the "30 for 60" bid, the player bids for 30 points and selects the trump
suit BEFORE looking at the cards. If the bid is made, the player or
partnership scores 60 points instead of 30, but if the bid fails, the
player loses only 30 points, as usual. This is generally a desperation
tactic, used when one side has a huge lead and is nearing 120 points.
* The high bidder may look through the kitty and select any of the three
cards for his / her hand. After this is done, each player may discard
up to four cards from his / her hand, and is dealt the same number of
replacements from the stock. More adventurous players tend to rely very
heavily on the kitty and the extra cards to strengthen their hands.
* The high bidder makes the opening lead. Thereafter, the winner of the
previous trick makes the first lead for the next trick. Players must
follow suit if possible. However, trumps may be played at ANY time,
even if the player can follow suit (Ace of Hearts counts as a trump).
* If trumps are led, other players must follow suit. However, the 5, Jack,
and Ace of Hearts are NOT forced out, unless a higher card was led to open
the trick. In other words: the Ace of Hearts may only be forced out by a
lead of either the 5 or the Jack of trumps; the Jack may only be forced by
the 5; the 5 of trumps can never be forced. And again, note that these
forced plays only occur if the 5 or Jack opened the trick - if they are
played as the second or third card in the trick, there is no forced play.
I think that's all the rules that we use. Here's a few quick strategic
points to get you started:
* Second man low, third man high (I think this is also a Bridge adage).
* As high bidder, give your partner the chance to use his / her high cards -
don't just trot out the 5 and Jack right away.
* Play for last trick - it is often possible to pick up a "cheap" trick
when everybody is out of trump. So in other words, save 5 of trumps to
win the fourth trick, so you'll have the lead on trick five.
* The strength of a hand is in the high cards, so don't necessarily count a
hand full of trumps as a strong hand. If you hold 2-3-4-6-7 of a suit,
you'll need a miracle to make a bid.
* Holding a 5, bid 15; holding 5-Jack, bid 20. Always count on some help
from the kitty, the extra (replacement) cards, or your partner.
* If you hold Ace of Hearts, remember that it's a strong card whether or not
you are high bidder. Likewise, holding several high cards in various suits
(for example, three fives), the best move is probably to pass - chances
are good that you will either reinforce partner's bid or stop the bid of
the other side.
And of course, bid high and take chances.
Doug
Gus
cronies will be very interested. By the way, we are originally
from North Andover, and all learned the game independantly.
One thing I wasn't sure of in your explanation; You do have to
declare trump before looking at the kitty, right (unless going
"30 for 60")? Do you ever play that the dealer can take 5 (a
source of great debate among us)? Also, if Ace of Hearts is led,
and you do not have a trump, do you have to play a heart?
Anyway, that was an excellent summary of the game. And I agree
that it is a great comination of luck and strategy. No problem
watching the game, having a beer, and playing at the same time!
Would anyone be interested in some sort of 45s group?
Thanks,
Gus
Ronald J. Fitzpatrick
: I grew up in Lawrence, MA, and most people who play 45s are from the
: Merrimack Valley area, particularly Lawrence. The surrounding
: communtiies of Methuen, Andover, North Andover, Dracut, Lowell,
: Salem NH, and Haverhill seem to have many players also. I will
: I am very surprised to see such a colloquial game mentioned here
: (it is a great game, though).
My grandparents lived on the Southern Shore of Newfoundland, Canada,
where Forty-Fives is the most common game played at the parish card
games. I am surprised to find it's not widely known.
CAN I find the rules somewhere?
--
******************************************************************************
Ronald J. Fitzpatrick * "Discontent comes in proportion to knowledge:
a53...@morgan.ucs.mun.ca * the more you know, the more you realize you
* don't know." -- Will Rogers
******************************************************************************
James Demers
Someone here already posted them, but as far as I know, there is no
written rulebook. I'm currently trying to program the game for
Windows 3.1, but I doubt if it will even be done in a year's time.
It will be freeware, so when it is dome, I will post to this group
anouncing it and its location.