Introduction
Forty-Five is a trick-taking game that originated in Ireland. It is closely related to the card game Spoil Five, another popular trick-taking game in Ireland.
Like the game upon which it is based, it is best played with 5 players, though it is possible to play with 2 to 8 players.
The Steps
The game is played using the Standard, Anglo-American 52-card deck.
Dealer Selection
The Dealer should be determined randomly, per the Players’ preferred method. Traditionally, Players will draw from the deck, with the highest card taking the first dealing position. Ties will redraw.
The Deal
Once a Dealer has been chosen by the appropriate methodology, each Player will be dealt a packet of two cards, starting from the Player to the immediate clockwise of the Dealer.
Once each Player has been dealt their two cards, another three will be dealt out. The Dealer should always deal themselves last.
Trump Suit and the Ace
After the Dealer deals themselves their final card, the Dealer will turn over one more card from the top of the deck. The Suit of this card will determine the Trump suit of the round.
Player Option
If any Player has the Ace of Trump, they may exchange it for the revealed Trump card. This can sometimes be beneficial, as Aces are not the highest-ranking Trump cards in Forty-Fives.
If a Player possesses the Ace but does not wish to exchange it, they must declare that they do not wish to exchange it, thereby signaling to other Players they have the Ace of Trump. If they do not declare it, the Ace of Trump becomes the lowest-ranking Trump automatically.
Dealer Option
Alternatively, if the Ace of Trump is the revealed card, the Dealer is allowed to discard one of their cards in exchange for the Ace of Trump. The Trump suit of the hand is not changed, even if the Dealer discards a card of a different suit.
Gameplay
Once the Trump card has been revealed, the game can begin with the first Player to the immediate left of the Dealer. That Player will lead the trick.
They may select any card from their hand they wish. The aim of the game is to win tricks, and as such Players must try to play the highest-ranking card into the trick.
Following Suit
Players following the leading Player must “follow suit” if they are able. To follow suit, a Player must play a card of the same suit into the trick.
Dead Hand
If a Player could have followed suit, but did not, their hand will become dead when it is discovered.
A Dead hand may no longer take tricks, though they must continue to participate in the subsequent tricks.
The next highest ranking card is awarded the trick instead, even if the Dead Hand normally would have taken the trick.
Other Options
Players could also play a Trump card instead of following suit.
Trumps beat all non-Trump cards, and can only be beaten by another Trump of a higher rank.
If a Player does not have a card that can follow suit nor a Trump, they may play any card in their hand. However, a card that does not follow suit, or is not a Trump card, can never win a Trick.
Trick-Taking
- Each Player, including the Dealer, will play exactly one card into the Trick.
- The Player who played the highest-ranking card which followed the suit of the leader, or who played a Trump, will take the trick.
- Players should keep each trick they take in separate piles, so that it is instantly obvious how many tricks were won.
- The Player who took the previous trick is given the right to lead the next trick.
Play order always continues in a clockwise fashion from the Player that leads the trick. Gameplay continues until each Player has played all of their five cards into all five of the required tricks.
Scoring
The score is kept according to the number of tricks won. Traditionally, Players are awarded 5 points for each trick that they took in that round.
There is a further 10-point bonus awarded to the Player who played the highest-ranking card for that round. Generally speaking, this would be the Player who played the highest-ranking Trump.
Ending and Winning
At the end of each round, the Dealing position should move one Player clockwise.
- The game continues until one player reaches 45 points.
- If two or more Players reach 45 points in the same round, the Player that would take their turn first, if moving clockwise from the Dealer, wins the pot.
Card Ranking Cheat Sheet
Below is a hand cheat sheet Players can use to remember the confusing ranking of cards. Cards are ranked based on their status as a Trump, or Non-Trump suit.
| Trump Suit | Ranking of Cards According to Suit |
|---|---|
| Diamonds | 5♦ J♦ A♥ A♦ K♦ Q♦ 10♦ 9♦ 8♦ 7♦ 6♦ 4♦ 3♦ 2♦ |
| Hearts | 5♥ J♥ A♥ K♥ Q♥ 10♥ 9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ 4♥ 3♥ 2♥ |
| Clubs | 5♣ J♣ A♥ A♣ K♣ Q♣ 2♣ 3♣ 4♣ 6♣ 7♣ 8♣ 9♣ 10♣ |
| Spades | 5♠ J♠ A♥ A♠ K♠ Q♠ 2♠ 3♠ 4♠ 6♠ 7♠ 8♠ 9♠ 10♠ |
| Non-Trump Suit | Card Ranking |
|---|---|
| Diamonds | K♦ Q♦ J♦ 10♦ 9♦ 8♦ 7♦ 6♦ 5♦ 4♦ 3♦ 2♦ A♦ |
| Hearts | K♥ Q♥ J♥ 10♥ 9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ 5♥ 4♥ 3♥ 2♥ |
| Clubs | K♣ Q♣ J♣ A♣ 2♣ 3♣ 4♣ 5♣ 6♣ 7♣ 8♣ 9♣ 10♣ |
| Spades | K♠ Q♠ J♠ A♠ 2♠ 3♠ 4♠ 5♠ 6♠ 7♠ 8♠ 9♠ 10♠ |
Notice that when the Hearts are not the Trump suit, the Ace of Hearts is missing, as it becomes a Trump card in the other suit.
45s Card Game Rules
We listed the key game rules below.
- The lowest-ranking Trump will beat the highest-ranking card which follows suit. The lowest-ranking card which follows suit will beat the highest-ranking card which cannot follow suit.
- The rankings of cards is rather unconventional. A card ranking cheat sheet is provided above.
- Players must each play one card into the trick each round. Players win 5 points for each trick they take. The Player who takes a trick is given the right to lead the next trick.
- Players must follow suit if they are able. If a Player is able to follow suit, but they do not do so, their hand will be considered dead, and can take no more tricks for the round.
Playing Example
Suppose the leading card of the trick is a 6♣
You have the following cards in your hand:
4♣, 8♠, 3♥
Suppose the Trump suit is ♠.
While you could play your 8♠ now, the black Trumps rank in the opposite of normal order. This means 8 is actually a very weak ♠ Trump.
You might be able to play the 8♠ and win the hand, but you are more likely to simply waste the Trump card, as another Player has good odds of having a better Trump than you.
Instead, simply follow suit, and Play the 4♣. If you play the 3♥ instead, as though you do not have any ♣, if you are caught then you will have a dead hand for the rest of the game.
Simply play safe, and follow suit.
Strategy and Tips
Tip 1
If you are given the ability to lead a trick, that is the perfect time to play a Trump card. Due to the follow-suit rules, players will be forced to play their Trump cards if they have them in their hand or risk being left with a dead hand.
Even if you do not win the hand, you force your opponents to waste their high-ranking Trump cards, giving you the chance to win other tricks later.
Tip 2
If you have the Ace of Trump, It will be advantageous for you to swap your card with the up-turned Trump if it is a 5, or Jack. Those cards are ranked more highly than the Ace of Trump in a Trump Suit.
Otherwise, simply keep the Ace and declare it. Be sure to declare it, or it will become the weakest Trump.
Video Tutorial
Note that the below tutorial might be a bit different from the Irish version, as the below is played in the United States. It also includes a “kitty”.
FAQs
How many cards are dealt?
Regardless of the number of Players, each Player will always be dealt five cards. This means there will always be five tricks per round.
What is the best card in Forty-Five?
There is no one best card in Forty-Five, as this is entirely dependent on the Trump suit for the hand. In all cases, the strongest card in the game will be the 5 of the Trump suit. 5 is always the highest-ranking Trump card.
Can you play with two people?
Forty-Five is entirely playable with only two people. Simply make sure both Players are dealt five cards. Although it is not recommended, as the best Player experience will occur with the traditional five Players,
Is there a difference with Auction 45?
Auction 45 is differentiated by the method of determining the Trump suit. Like in other Auction-based trick-taking games, players will “bid” that they will win a certain number of points.
Player 1 says they will win 10 points that round, while Player 2 says they will win 15.
Players’s auction bids can increase up to 35, the maximum number of points a Player could earn in a single round.
The Player who bids the highest amount of points wins the right to determine the Trump suit, and will also lead the first trick.
However, if a Player does not meet or exceed the points they bid originally, their score for that round will be subtracted from their total instead.
