Quick answer: In 29, only the bidding team's score changes. If they take at least as many card points as they bid, they gain 1 game point; if they fall short, they lose 1. A pair (king and queen of trumps) moves their target by 4. The first team to +6 wins, and a team that falls to -6 loses. This free calculator keeps the count for you.
Learning to play? Read the full 29 card game rules: bidding, trumps and the pair.
This 29 card game score calculator keeps the count for both teams so nobody has to argue over the red six and black six. Enter the bidding team, the bid, any double, redouble or set, and whether a pair was declared. The calculator works out the target, tells you if the bid was made, and moves the game points towards +6 or -6. House-rule switches cover the most common regional differences: lowest bid 15 or 16, the extra point for the last trick (29 points in play), and the Bengal-style under-half penalty. There is no app and no sign-up, and your game is saved on your device, so a phone call in the middle of a hand will not wipe the score.
29 Score Calculator
House rules
Hand 1. First team to +6 wins.
Record a hand
| Hand | Bidder | Bid | Target | Took | Result | Score |
|---|
Your game is saved on this device, so you can close the page and come back.
How to use the 29 score calculator
- Enter the team names. Open House rules if your group plays with a lowest bid of 15, a point for the last trick, or the under-half penalty.
- After each hand, choose the bidding team, their bid and any double.
- If a pair was declared, choose which side declared it.
- Count the card points the bidding team took in their tricks and tap Add hand. The calculator shows the target, the result and the new score.
29 card game points counter: card values
29 uses 32 cards: J, 9, A, 10, K, Q, 8 and 7 in each suit, ranked in that order from high to low. Only four ranks carry points:
- Jack: 3 points
- Nine: 2 points
- Ace: 1 point
- Ten: 1 point
- King, Queen, 8, 7: 0 points
That makes 28 card points in the deck. Some groups give 1 extra point for winning the last trick, making 29. Most players today play with 28.
Bidding and the target score
Players bid after seeing their first four cards. The lowest bid is 16 in many groups and 15 in others, and the highest is 28. The highest bidder chooses trumps, and their team must take at least the bid in card points.
How the pair changes the target
A player holding the king and queen of trumps can declare a pair (also called royals or marriage) once trumps are known, after their side wins a trick. If the bidding team declares it, their target drops by 4, but never below the lowest bid. If the opponents declare it, the bidding team's target rises by 4, but never above 28.
29 card game scoring explained: game points to +6
Only the bidding team's score moves. They gain 1 game point if they reach their target and lose 1 if they miss it. Traditionally each team tracks this with a red six (plus points) and a black six (minus points). The first team to +6 wins the game, and a team that drops to -6 loses it.
Many groups play doubles: an opponent can say double before the rest of the cards are dealt, making the hand worth 2 game points, and the bidding team can redouble to 4. Some groups add a set, worth 6.
Worked example
Team A bids 18 and Team B doubles. Team A later declares a pair, so their target drops to 14, but the lowest bid is 16, so it stops at 16. Team A takes 17 card points, makes the target and gains 2 game points.
Frequently asked questions
How many points is a jack in 29?
A jack is worth 3 points, the highest of any card. Nines are worth 2, aces and tens 1 each, and kings, queens, eights and sevens nothing.
How do you count card points in 29?
At the end of the hand, the bidding team adds up the jacks (3), nines (2), aces (1) and tens (1) in the tricks they won. Enter that total in the calculator.
Why is the game called 29 if there are 28 points?
In some versions the last trick is worth 1 extra point, making 29 in total. The name stuck even though most people now play with 28.
Does the team that did not bid score anything?
No. Only the bidding team gains or loses game points on each hand.
How many game points do you need to win 29?
The first team to reach +6 wins. A team that falls to -6 loses.
How does double and redouble work in the calculator?
Choose Double to make the hand worth 2 game points, Redouble for 4 and Set for 6. The bidding team wins or loses that many game points.
Can a pair take the target below 16?
No. A pair cannot reduce the target below the lowest bid your group allows, and it cannot push the target above 28.
What is the under-half rule?
Many groups in Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand double the loss when the bidding team takes less than half of their bid. Switch it on under House rules if you play this way.
Is the 29 calculator free and does it save my game?
Yes. It is free, needs no app, and saves the game on your device until you tap New game.
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Source: Twenty-Nine rules and regional variations, pagat.com (John McLeod). Rules differ between regions, so agree on house rules before you start.
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