How to Play Chouine
Chouine is a friendly two-player marriage and trick game from west-central France. If you like simple trick-taking with a little marrying and strategy, you’ll enjoy this one — learn more with Playmore and then try a few practice hands.
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Game | Chouine |
| Typical players | 2 |
| Deck or components | 32 French-suited cards (a reduced setup made from a normal 52-card deck) |
| Family | Marriage / trick-taking (Brisque tradition) |
| Focus for beginners | Two-player marriage/trick game preserving Brisque tradition |
What you are trying to do
Your goal is to win tricks and score points from special card combinations called marriages (usually a king and queen of the same suit). You also collect points from certain cards you win in tricks. Play rounds until a set target score or number of rounds decides the match — exact scoring and targets vary by local rules.
What you need and how to set up
You need a 32-card French-suited deck. Make this by removing the 2–6 cards from a standard 52-card deck. Shuffle well.
Deal each player a hand and leave the remaining cards as a face-down talon or stock. How many cards you deal and how the talon is used can differ by version. Likewise, which card ranks are highest can depend on local rules. Check the linked official or regional rules for the exact version your group wants to play.
How to play
- Deal and reveal: Deal the agreed number of cards to each player and form a face-down talon. Some versions reveal one card to set trump early; other versions handle trumps in a different way. Follow your chosen rules.
- Declare marriages: If you hold the king and queen of the same suit, you may be able to declare that marriage for bonus points. Declaring often happens before or during trick play and sometimes changes the trump suit. Exact timing and score for marriages vary by version.
- Lead a trick: The player who leads plays one card face up. The opponent must follow suit if able (play a card of the same suit).
- Winning tricks: If you cannot follow suit, you may be allowed to play any card, including trumps. The trick is taken by the highest card of the suit led or by the highest trump if trumps were played. Card rank order and which cards score points depend on the version.
- Draw from the talon (version-dependent): In many versions, players draw from the talon to refill hands between tricks until it is gone. In others, all cards are played without drawing. Follow your chosen rules for when to draw and when drawing stops.
- Track score during the round: Count points from declared marriages and from scoring cards won in tricks. Keep a running total for each player. Exact point values are version-dependent and should be confirmed with your group’s rule set.
How a round or game ends
A single round usually ends when all tricks are played or when the talon is exhausted and final tricks are taken. The game match ends when a player reaches the agreed target score or after the agreed number of rounds. Because some details (exact point totals, penalties, and end conditions) change by local tradition, check the official or regional rules your group prefers for the exact finish conditions.
Beginner tips
- Practice recognizing marriages quickly in your hand. They give important bonus points and sometimes set trump.
- Keep track of high cards and trumps that have been played. That helps you guess what’s left in your opponent’s hand.
- When drawing from a talon is allowed, remember that early tricks can shape the rest of the round. Play carefully until you see how the draw changes hands.
- Agree on the exact rule set before you start. Chouine has regional differences, so a quick rules check keeps the game fair and fun.
FAQ
What cards make the 32-card deck?
Use a standard 52-card deck and remove the 2s through 6s. That leaves A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7 in each suit.
How many players can play?
Chouine is typically played by two players. Some related games support more, but the two-player version is the classic form described here.
Where do I find the exact scoring and special rules?
Chouine has regional and house variations. Check the linked authoritative or regional rules for the precise scoring, card ranking, and any special penalties before you play.