Dehla Pakad Card Game

Dehla Pakad, a strategic card game in India, is based on the popular British games 'Mendicot' and 'Whist'.The game gets its name from the Hindi words "Dehla", which means to catch, and "Pakad", which means to hold and roughly translates to “collect the 10s” in Hindi.

Played with a standard 52-card deck, its simplicity makes it accessible to players of all ages. This trick-taking game is designed for a minimum of four players. The goal is to secure as many 10s as possible while outsmarting other opponents.

The rules of the Dehla Pakad game are simple to understand, and you'll find everything you need here to help you get started.

What is the Dehla Pakad Game?

Dehla Pakad is a traditional Indian card game that is popular in the northern parts of India. It is played in pairs with a standard deck of 52 cards after discarding the Jokers. It also goes by other names like Mindi, Court Piece, Chokadi, T'rup, Hokm, Chakri, and Pees.

The game aims to win the maximum number of tens possible per round and win Kots. One kot is equal to four tens. The team of two players who win the maximum tens is declared the hand's winner. If both teams cannot gather all the tens, they can still win a Kot by winning seven tricks consecutively.

Dehla Pakad Rules

Players and Cards:

• Dehla Pakad is played with a standard deck of 52 cards.
• The game is played with four players in two teams of two players. The players in each team sit opposite each other; partners must not sit next to each other.

Deal and Play:

• The dealer shuffles and deals 5 cards to all four players, including themselves. After selecting a trump, each player receives 8 cards in batches of 4 cards. 
• The game is played in clockwise order, with the player starting the game to the dealer's left by leading a card of any suit.
• The other players must then play a card of the same suit if they have one. 
• If they do not have a card of the same suit, they can play a trump card or any other card from the cards they hold. 
• The player who plays the highest card in the suit or the highest trump card wins the trick.

Selecting the Trump Suit:

Method 1:

• The dealer takes the top card from the deck and places it face-up on the table. This card determines the trump suit for the round.
• The trump suit is the suit of the card that is placed face-up on the table.

Method 2:

• Once the dealer has dealt the first five cards to all players, the player sitting to the right of the dealer decides the trump from the five cards they hold. They can choose any suit as Trump, but it’s recommended to choose the suit of which you have maximum cards as Trump.

Taking Tricks:

• The game starts when the player sitting to the dealer's left makes the first move by playing any card.
• If they don't have the same suit, the player who plays the highest card of the same suit or a trump card wins the trick. The winner of the trick leads to the next trick.
• A player can play a trump card at any time to win the trick if they don’t have a card of the same suit as the leading card.

Winning Kots:

• After all 13 tricks have been played, the team that wins the majority of tens or seven consecutive tricks in that round wins.
• The team that wins the majority of “kots” at the end of the game wins the match.

Scoring:

• At the end of each round, the score is calculated based on the number of tricks each team has won.
• Each card has a point value: Ace (1 point), King (1 point), Queen (1 point), Jack (1 point), 10 (1 point). All other cards are equal to their face value.
• The team that wins the majority of tricks scores points based on the value of the cards they have won.
• If a team wins all 13 tricks in a round, they score a bonus of 10 points.
• If a team scores more than 40 points in a round, they can also score a bonus of 10 points.

How to Play Dehla Pakad Game Step-by-Step

This section will discuss how to play the Dehla Pakad game step-by-step.

Step 1: Choosing Partners

First, the four players sit in pairs opposite each other. The partners must not sit next to each other.

Step 2: Shuffle and Deal the Cards

The dealer then shuffles the deck of cards and deals 5 cards to each player, one at a time, in a clockwise order. 

Step 3: Trump Suit Selection

After the cards have been dealt, the dealer places the last card of the deck face-up on the table. This card determines the trump suit for the round. The trump suit is the suit of the card that is placed face-up on the table.

To choose a trump suit wisely, players often consider selecting the suit with the strongest cards in their hand or the one that complements their overall strategy.

After the trump is selected, the dealer deals the remaining cards to each player in two rounds, each in batches of four cards.

Step 4: Taking Tricks

The player to the dealer's left starts the game by playing any card from their hand. The other players must then play a card of the same suit if they have one. If a player does not have a card of the same suit, they may play any other card from their hand.

Step 5: Winning Kots

After all 13 tricks have been played, the team that has won the majority of tricks in that round is said to have won the kots. A game consists of multiple rounds, and the team that wins the most kots at the end of the game wins the match.

Scenario 1: Team A has won three 10s. However, due to their lower hand count, they lost the game to Team B, who have secured one 10 but have more hands overall. The game progresses with Team B leading.

Scenario 2: A kot occurs as Team A successfully wins all four 10s, leading to an immediate victory. Team B couldn't prevent the Kot and the game concluded with Team A emerging as the winner.

Scenario 3: Both teams manage to win two 10s each. However, with more hands won, Team A is declared the winner, breaking the tie and advancing in the game.

Step 6: Scoring

At the end of each round, the score is calculated based on the number of tricks won by each team. Each card has a point value, as mentioned in the scoring section in the previous answer. The team that wins the majority of tricks scores points based on the value of the cards they have won.

In addition to the regular points, bonus points can be scored during the game. 

For example, if a team wins all 13 tricks in a round, they score a bonus of 10 points. If a team scores more than 40 points in a round, they can also score a bonus of 10 points.

Dehla Pakad Game Strategy

To increase your chances of winning in Dehla Pakad, maintain a balance between offence and defence throughout the game. Winning the majority of hands is crucial, so prioritize capturing cards strategically. Utilize your high-ranking trump cards judiciously, saving them for opportune moments. 

Additionally, keen observation of opponents' playing patterns and adapting your strategy accordingly is paramount. Lastly, stay mentally agile and be ready to adapt to the evolving game dynamics.

• Lead with low cards: At the start of a round, consider leading with lower-ranking cards to gauge your opponents' hands. This can help you understand the distribution of cards and plan your moves accordingly.
• Hold high trump cards: Keep high-ranking trump cards for crucial moments, such as countering opponents' strong plays or securing a Kot. Timing is critical, so don't exhaust your high trumps too early in the game.
• Observant strategy: Pay attention to the cards played by opponents and try to identify patterns in their strategy. This observation can help you predict their moves and adjust your gameplay to gain an advantage.
• Strategic use of kots: Winning a kot is essential, but don't rush to win them all. Use kots strategically to disrupt opponents' momentum or to secure a lead. Winning kots too early may give opponents time to adapt.
• Communication in teams: When playing in teams, communicate openly with your partner. Share information about your hand, discuss potential strategies, and coordinate moves to maximize the effectiveness of your partnership.
• Control the trump suit: If possible, try to control the trump suit. This involves having multiple trump cards of different ranks. Controlling the trump suit gives you a significant advantage in capturing high-value cards.
• Disrupt opponents' trump strategy: If you notice an opponent collecting high-ranking trump cards, consider disrupting their strategy by leading with low trumps or forcing them to use their trumps prematurely.
• Calculate probabilities: Develop a sense of the probabilities associated with the distribution of cards. This can help you make informed decisions, especially when deciding whether to play a trump or non-trump card.
• Adapt to changing situations: Be flexible in your approach. If the game dynamics change, adapt your strategy accordingly. This may involve shifting from an aggressive to a defensive stance or vice versa.
• Bluffing strategy: Use psychological tactics to mislead opponents. Employ bluffing to create confusion and make opponents uncertain about your hand. This can lead them to make mistakes that you can capitalize on.

Alternative Card Game of Dehla Pakad Game

Dehla Pakad is an exciting game to play, and if you like playing Dehla Pakad, you can try out some other interesting alternative card games:

• Poker

Poker is a skill, and strategy-based game played worldwide in casinos and online. It is one of the most popular card games played with a standard deck of 52 cards. The game aims to make the highest-ranking hand using the hole cards dealt to each player and the community cards on the table. Texas Hold’em and Omaha are the two most popular poker variants, each with its own rules, though the basics of both variants are the same. Poker is everyone’s favourite card game, from beginners playing with small stakes to high-stakes seasoned poker players. 

• Rummy

Rummy is another widely popular card game. Rummy aims to create sets and sequences by drawing and discarding cards. Players must make a minimum of two sequences, and one must be a pure sequence out of the two, while the other cards can be of any valid sets or sequences to win the game. A set comprises three or more cards belonging to the same suit, whereas a sequence is made of three or more cards of the same suit arranged consecutively. 

• Call Break

Call Break is an exciting card game played between four players with a standard deck of 52 cards. It is a trick-taking card game similar to Spades, Hearts, and Canasta. While the rules may vary from one another, the basics of the game are the same. The goal is to win the same number of tricks or more you bid to make, looking at your cards before the start of every round. This game is known for being simple and fun to play. 

• Online Solitaire 

It is typically a one-player card game. The objective is to set up cards in ascending order based on their suits, starting from the ace and moving up to the king in four foundation piles. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Does Dehla Pakad Mean In English?

Dehla Pakad is a traditional Indian card game that translates to "catch and hold" in English. It is played with a standard deck of 52 cards, and the objective is to win the most tricks and score the highest number of points.

How Is The Trump Suit Selected In Dehla Pakad?

The trump suit is selected in Dehla Pakad by taking the top card from the remaining deck and placing it face-up on the table. The suit of this card is the trump suit for the round.

What Is The Role Of The Dealer In Dehla Pakad?

The dealer in Dehla Pakad is responsible for dealing the cards to the players and determining the trump suit for each round. The dealer also plays a critical role in maintaining the game's fairness and ensuring that all players follow the rules.

What is the objective of the Dehla Pakad Game?

The objective is to win the maximum number of 10s in each round and win kots. One kot equals four 10s, and the team that wins the maximum 10s is the winner. A team can win a kot by making seven consecutive hands if they cannot gather all the 10s.

Conclusion:

Mastering Dehla Pakad means understanding its main parts: objectives, playing cards, choosing trumps, taking tricks, and winning kots. The game has unique rules that make it fun to play. Because it's a game for pairs, it's perfect to play amongst friends and family. Knowing the gameplay will help you build the perfect strategy to win. Dehla Pakad is a simple and enjoyable card game that is perfect for connecting and having fun moments together.