How to play Callbreak
Callbreak is a four-player trick-taking game. Before playing your cards, you call how many tricks you expect to win. Making that call earns points, and missing it loses the called amount. Spades are always trump, so a small spade can beat a high card from another suit when played legally.
What you need
Four players use one 52-card deck. Each receives 13 cards. Against the computer a game lasts five rounds. A friends' table plays three rounds. Dealing, calling and play move to the right, with the first dealer chosen at random. After a completed round, the deal moves one seat to the right. Each player competes for their own total.
Card values
| Feature | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Rank order | Ace, king, queen, jack, 10 down to 2 |
| Trump | Spades throughout the game |
| Trick | One card played by each of four players |
| Default call range | 1 through 8 |
Cards do not add their printed values to your score. Their ranks decide who wins each trick. With no spade played, the highest card in the suit led wins. With a spade played, the highest spade wins. A high card in another suit cannot win a trick simply because its rank is large.
How a turn works
- Review your 13 cards and make a call within the table's allowed range. Think about high cards, suit lengths and usable spades before choosing.
- The leader plays a card to begin a trick. This sets the suit everyone must follow when able.
- On your turn, play a card of the led suit if you have one. You cannot choose a spade instead while still holding the required suit.
- If you have no card in that suit, the basic rule allows any card. Optional must-trump and must-beat settings can narrow your legal choices.
- After four cards, the winning player collects the trick and leads the next one. Continue until all 13 tricks have been played.
A trick is one opportunity to add to your won count. Winning a trick and scoring a round are different steps. The scoreboard compares your final trick count with your call after the hand is complete.
How a round ends and Scoring
If you win at least your call, score the call plus 0.1 for each extra trick. Call 4 and win 6: 4 + 2 × 0.1 = 4.2 points. Call 4 and win only 3: score −4. Winning three tricks gives no partial credit toward an unsuccessful call.
For a complete example, four players call 4, 3, 3 and 2 and win 6, 3, 2 and 2 tricks. The won counts total 13. Their scores are 4.2, 3, −3 and 2. These round scores are added to their own running totals. Callbreak scores do not have to sum to zero.
The game ends after the last round: five against the computer, three at a friends' table. An enabled instant-win option can end it earlier when a player calls at least 8 and makes that call. Check whether that setting is active before treating a large call as an ordinary round.
House-rule choices at EverestBuzz tables
The default maximum call is 8; a table can allow 13. The engine normally redeals when a player has no spades. Optional rules include redealing hands without face cards and redealing when the four calls total less than 8. Low-call redeals are limited to avoid endlessly restarting a round.
Must beat requires a higher card when following suit if one can beat the current winning card in that suit. Must trump requires a winning spade when you cannot follow suit and have one. That includes playing a higher spade over a spade already down. Instant win on a successful call of 8 or more is also a table choice.
These choices belong to computer practice. A friends' table always uses the basic rules: three rounds, calls from 1 to 8, follow suit, a redeal when a player has no spades, and no instant win.
Beginner tips
- Count likely tricks before adding uncertain ones to your call.
- Track which suits other players can no longer follow.
- Keep enough flexibility to reach your own call.
- Read the bidding example before your next deal.
Callbreak here is points only: no money, bets or prizes.