What's new:
Improvements to AI, experience.
500 is one of the best card games of all time.
This beta version uses the U.S. rules and features great things like:
- A computer AI who will play with you
- No ads or network usage
- Tracks your wins/losses
This is a work in progress. Feel free to include suggestions, desired features, or AI improvements on the forum:
http://atakala.com/Browser/Item.aspx?user_id=fivehundred
NOTE: If your device lacks a menu button, touch anywhere in the top of the app's black space to open the menu.
Cards are dealt randomly. The AI is not given any information a human wouldn't have, or any special advantage.
Generally this follows U.S. 500 rules with scoring variation adapted at the University of Minnesota to reduce the relative strength of Nula hands to No Trump hands.
Refer online for US 500 rules. A summary listing key points follows:
Use the menu to start a “New Game”.
Players are each dealt 10 cards. There are two teams (opposite players).
When it is your bid, use the arrows to raise or lower your bid and click ‘Submit Bid’.
A ‘6’ bid is a hint “inkle”; if all players bid 6, the cards are re-dealt. It generally hints at a single jack of that suit, or either a single joker or two aces if no trump.
A bid of 7 or more of a suit means you and your partner must take that many tricks with that suit as trump. Joker is high, then right jack, left jack (other jack of same color), ace, on down to 4.
The bid order of suits is Spades, Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, No Trump
You must always either pass or submit a higher bid to continue. Bidding only goes around the table once.
A “NT” bid (No Trump) is played with Ace as high. The only trump card is the joker. If the joker is led, the suit must be declared.
A “NU” (Nula) bid falls between 7 spades and 7 no trump. The only trump card is the joker. If the joker is led, the suit must be declared. The partner sits out in Nula. You must receive no tricks to win the bid.
A “GN” (Grand Nula) bid falls between 8 spades and 8 no trump. The only trump card is the joker. If the joker is led, the suit must be declared. The partner sits out in Grand Nula. You must receive no tricks to win the bid. Your hand is played face up starting on the second trick.
A “DN” (Double Nula) bid falls between 9 spades and 9 no trump. The only trump card is the joker. If the joker is led, the suit must be declared. You and your partner must receive no tricks to win the bid.
When you win the bid, you exchange 5 cards with the blind. In double nula, your partner also exchanges 5 cards with the blind (after you).
Game play follows normal trick taking rules. You must follow the lead suit if possible.
If you and your partner make the bid, you score the bid value. Otherwise you lose 10 points per trick.
First team to 500 points wins. A score of -500 results in an automatic loss.
More information about 500 can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/500_(card_game)
