Rules for 'Texas 42' 42 is an old game played by Texans for many years. It is quite easy to play, and provides many hours of entertainment for players of all ages. 42 requires four players, teamed in 2 pairs. The computer provides both your partner and both of your opponents. Partners sit opposite each other, which means your partner will sit at the top of the screen. In this manner, players from each team always follow an opposing players play. 1. Terms Used in 42 Suit - There are seven dominoes in each suit, six with the number of dots on one end being the same and one with the number of dots on both ends being the same. The latter is called a double. EXAMPLE: Listed in the order of their importance: 2-2, 2-6, 2-5, 2-4, 2-3, 2-2, 2-1, 2-0. Doubles can also be classed as a suit, for instance, in the same order of importance: 6-6, 5-5, 4-4, 3-3, 2-2, 1-1, 0-0. There are a total of 8 different suits: Blanks, 1's, 2's, 3's, 4's, 5's, 6's, and Doubles. Trick - A trick consists of 4 dominoes, each player playing 1 domino in clockwise rotation around the table. There are seven tricks to each hand. Trumps - The highest bidder's suit becomes the main trumps for the duratio of one hand. Trumps are higher than any domino and will take tricks including doubles of other suits. Offs - Any domino in a bidder's hand that is not a trump or double is considered an "off". Walker - Any domino which has not been played, and is the highest in its suit after the double and other higher ones have been played is said to be a "walker". This domino, like a double, is a good lead. Count Dominoes - There are 5 count dominoes in a double six set of dominoes, 5-5 and 6-4 which count 10 points, and 0-5, 3-2, and 1-4 which count 5 points apiece. One of the main objects of playing each hand is to catch as many of these dominoes as possible. Count - Each trick counts 1 point plus the values of "count" dominoes in each trick. 2. Dealing A dealer is selected to start the game, and this is always the opponent on your right. The dominoes are shuffled in a random fashion (by the computer), and each player is delt seven dominoes. Only your dominoes can be seen by you. At succeeding hands, the dealer shifts clockwise around the table, that is, you will be the second dealer. Note that the term "dealing" in this version really only affects the first bidder. 3. Bidding Rotation of Bid - The player sitting to the left of the dealer is the first bidder. This means that when the game starts, you will be the first bidder. You have the option of bidding, passing, or playing trash, which will be explained later. If you happen to be the last bidder, and all other players have passed, the pass option is not allowed. After all bids are in, the highest bidder gets to begin play. The Different Bids - Always bid the numerical value of your hand but never reveal the trumps you are bidding until you have won the bid. The different bids are 30, 31, 32, 33, etc. on up to 42. Bids above 42 depend on two things: someone must have already bid 42, and you must bid a multiple of 42, i.e. 84, 126, etc. How to Bid - After the dealer has finished and you receive your seven dominoes, pick out the best looking suit of dominoes in your hand. These are your trumps. The double of your trump is important but not 100 percent necessary, but keep in mind count dominoes. Then pick out your doubles, since these are also important to your play. Any domino left in your hand that is not a trump or a double is an "off". These are the dominoes you take chances on your partner catching. Determine by the number of trumps you have plus the number of doubles you have, how many tricks you can catch and bid accordingly. EXAMPLES: 30-35 bidding: 2's are trumps, 2-2, 2-6, 2-3, 2-1, Double 5-5, "offs" are 3-1, 1-0. 30-35 bidding without double: 6's are trumps, 6-5, 6-4, 5-2, Doubles: 5-5, 3-3, Possible walker: 3-1 and "off" 4-2 42-84-126-168: 4's are trumps, 4-4, 4-6, 4-3, Doubles: 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, Possible Walker: 3-1 As you gain experience, you will learn how to take chances bidding on weak hands. Keep in mind that your partner may have the necessary dominoes to complete your hand, and a good strategy is to play into your partners hand when you have a bad "off" lead. Learn to count on your partner for help in catching your "offs" and for help in bidding, as well as playing "count" dominoes on the tricks that you catch. 4. Basic Rules Players must follow suit led by the first player of each trick. If trumps are not led, the highest suit on the domino led establishes the suit you must follow. If it is not possible to follow suit, a trump, count domino, or an "off" may be played. Trumps can NOT be played if it is possible to follow suit with other dominoes. The highest trump or highest domino takes the trick. When doubles are trumps, the lead of a double requires all players to play a double when possible or follow suit of the double led. 5. Playing Your Bid Always be sure in playing the bid to get all your trumps in as soon as possible unless you find out that your partner is holding all the trumps that are still out. If trumps are still in your opponents hands they can trump in on your tricks that contain count dominoes and "set" you much easier. If the high trump is still out then lead a small trump in order to force play of the higher trump. EXAMPLE: A simple 30-35 bid hand which appears like this - 2's are trumps, 2-2, 2-6, 2-3, 2-1, Double 5-5, Offs 3-1, 1-0. First play the 2-2 to pull as many trumps as possible then play 6-2 to pull any additional trumps (if all the trumps are played on 2-2 it is still best to lead the second trump so your partner can play a count domino that he might have). If all the trumps have been played except those in your hand, then play the 5-5 which is worth ten points, and also has a chance of pulling in the 0-5, which is worth 5 points. After the 5-5 is played, lead an off lead that you feel your partner can catch. If your opponent catches it, then you still have a trump in which to get back in the lead. However, if no one plays a counter on the next trick, it is safe to discard the other off on that trick without going set. Try to save a trump for the last trick on 30-35 bids. All the count dominoes that your opponents have been holding will usually be played on the last trick. 6. Defensive Playing When defensive playing, always try to play as many count dominoes on your partner's tricks as possible. If you are holding two trumps in your hand and one is next to the double, play the lowest trump and hold onto the high trump so you can catch the next trick. This will enable your partner to play his count domino. Anytime you follow a bidder, and it is evident that one of the high trumps is out against him, take a chance your partner has the high trump by playing a count on the trick. There is a 50-50 chance that your partner will take the trick. In determining what "off" to hold for, keep track of what has been played. A record of play is kept on either side of the screen, so you can review all plays of a particular hand at any time. Try to notice when the other players do not have a particular suit. For example, if your partner leads a 3-2, you take it with a 3-4, and the other players do not follow suit with a "3", then it is assured that either a 3-1 or 3-0 will either walk or play into your partner's hand, provided no trumps are out. 7. Playing Trash A bidding option mentioned previously is called Trash. Situations often arise where you are dealt a hand that is simply terrible, but you end up stuck with the bid. It is quit obvious that you cannot make 30, so you can bid Trash. A trash hand is one in which the bidder tries NOT to take any tricks. His partner turns his hand face down, and the bidder plays only against his two opponents. In order to bid in trash, the bidder must bid 42, or a multiple thereof. When you bid trash, you will only lead one time at the start. This is when you should lead your worst lead, typically the 1-0. This will almost always play into your opponents hands. From then on, you must play defensively, but try to LOSE each trick. If you happen to take a trick, you lose the hand immediately. 8. Scoring A game of 42 is played to 300 points. Scoring for each hand is as follows: 5-5 10 Points 6-4 10 Points 4-1 5 Points 0-5 5 Points 3-2 5 Points Each Trick 1 Point There are 7 tricks per hand which total 42 points. To determine if a bid is made, add the number of points in the bidders tricks. If they do not total the amount bid or more, then he is "set". Tricks with count dominoes in them still count 1 point for the trick, plus the value of the count domino. If you are fortunate and "set" your opponents, you score the amount that they bid, plus the amount of your own tricks. If you make your own bid, you score the bid plus the amount in your tricks. Trash is scored differently. Since the bid is 42 or a multiple thereof, you can only win or lose a maximum of your bid. This is a good strategy when the game is tight and you are stuck with the bid and a lousy hand. If you were to bid 30 and lose, you could give your opponents 72 points, yet if you bid in trash and lost, you could only lose what you bid, usually only 42. 9. Playing the Game The game is started by typing BASIC 42. The game screen will then appear, with your first hand in front of you. You and your partner's score will appear in the upper left corner of the screen, and your opponent's in the upper right. Since the opponent on your right dealt, you will be the first bidder. You can type in a bid, or "P" for pass. If you are the last bidder and no one else has bid, you must bid. If you are the high bidder, you then are prompted for the trump suit. This is either a number from 0-6, "D" for doubles, or "T" for trash. Note that you can only bid trash if your bid was 42 or a multiple thereof. Play will then begin by prompting you for PLAY?. You can then type in the number of any domino remaining in your hand. If you try to play a domino that you don't have, or an illegal play, the computer will BEEP and prompt you for another play. One option that you have is if you get the bid, state the trump suit, and then decide that you don't want to play that suit, you can type "C" for change suit as your first play. This is only allowed on your first play, since you cannot change trump suits in the middle of the game. Have fun and enjoy!