Games · Tekdheb · The rules

The rules

Tekdheb: the rules

Tekdheb ("you're lying"): play your cards face down, say what they are, and call out the liars. Get rid of your cards first. These are the rules exactly as Dineri plays them.

The game

  • Three to fourteen players, each alone. The goal: empty your hand as soon as you can.
  • Players who empty their hands are out, in the order they finish. When only two players still hold cards, the game ends and both of them lose.

The cards

  • A 52-card rami deck, no jokers: one deck for 3 to 7 players, two decks for 8 to 14.
  • Every card is dealt; when they don't divide evenly, some players get one more. The first player is drawn at random.

Playing

  • The first player puts one or more cards face down on the pile and says what they are, for example "three kings". The number is always true; only the rank can be a lie.
  • That rank stays until someone accuses: each next player adds cards and declares the same rank ("two kings", "one king"…).
  • On your turn you must play or accuse: no passing. Turns go round counter-clockwise, skipping players who are out.

Accusing

  • Anyone still playing may accuse the player who just played, until the next player plays; the first to accuse counts. You can't accuse yourself.
  • The last play's cards are turned over. If any isn't of the declared rank, it was a lie: the liar takes the whole pile. If they're all true, the accuser takes the pile.
  • Whoever didn't take the pile starts a new one, with any rank (if they have no cards left, the next player who does).

Going out, and fours

  • A player who has played their last cards is out once that play stands: the next player plays on, or an accusation of it fails. Caught lying, they take the pile and play on.
  • Hold four of a rank (four queens) and you may drop them, face up, at any time. With two decks, eight of a rank make two drops. Emptying your hand this way puts you out.
  • Everyone sees the pile's size, the declared rank, and how many cards each player holds.
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