How to Play Mendikot
Want a simple, friendly guide to Mendikot? This page walks you through the basics so you can start playing right away. For more card guides and resources, visit Playmore.
| Quick fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Game | Mendikot |
| Family / Region | Western India trick-taking |
| Typical players | 4 |
| Deck | Standard 52-card deck |
| Core objective | Capture tens in tricks |
| Version note | Unlike Dehla Pakad, Mendikot does not require consecutive tricks; regional rules vary |
What you are trying to do
Mendikot is a trick-taking card game where the key goal is to win tricks that contain the ten cards. Tens are the valuable cards. You try to collect as many tens as your group's scoring rules say. Exact scoring, whether tens are the only scoring cards, and other details can change by region, so check the authoritative regional rules on Pagat for your chosen version.
What you need and how to set up
You need one normal 52-card deck and four players. Sit around a table so everyone can see the played cards. Pick a dealer by any fair method, then shuffle and cut. How many cards each player gets and whether there is a separate stock or a trump suit depends on the version you choose to play. Agree with the group which regional rules you will follow before dealing.
How to play
- Start a trick: The player chosen to lead plays a card face up to the center.
- Follow the group rule for following suit: In most trick games players must follow the suit led if they can. If your version allows trumps, those are used to beat other suits as your agreed rules state.
- Play continues clockwise until each player has played one card to the trick.
- Determine the trick winner by the rule set you agreed on. The winner takes the trick and keeps the cards face down in a pile in front of them.
- The winner of the trick leads the next trick.
- Repeat until the round ends under your group’s rules (for example when all cards are played or a pre-set hand limit is reached).
- After the round, count how many tens each player or team captured, and score according to your agreed version.
How a round or game ends
Exact end conditions vary by version. A round often ends when all cards have been played. A game may be several rounds, with points from captured tens accumulating until a target score is reached. Because Mendikot rules differ by region, confirm how you end a round and how many rounds make a game before you start.
Beginner tips
- Watch the tens closely. Note who takes them and where they go.
- Keep track of suits that have been exhausted. That tells you when tens are vulnerable.
- Play high cards only when needed to capture a trick that contains a ten.
- If you play partnerships, discuss general signals and strategy before dealing. Don’t change rules mid-game.
- Agree on the exact rule set up front or use the Pagat reference to pick an official version.
FAQ
Do I need a special deck?
No. Mendikot uses a standard 52-card deck. You do not need to buy anything special.
Are tens the only scoring cards?
Capturing tens is the central objective, but whether tens are the only scoring cards or how many points each ten is worth can vary. Check the version you are playing for exact scoring.
Where can we find the official rules?
There is an authoritative regional rules reference on Pagat. Because Mendikot has local variations, look up the Pagat entry or the in-group rules to be sure you’re all playing the same version.