Shelem

Shelem is an Iranian trick-taking card game with four players.

Shelem is an Iranian trick-taking card game with four players in two partnerships, bidding and competing against each other. Bidding and trump are declared in every hand by the bidding winner. Both the name and the point structure of this game are similar to the American game Rook, there being a possible connection between the two games. Though it isn't clear from which game it is derived.

What's New in the Latest Version 1.03

Last updated on Apr 18, 2024

1.03
Some bugs fixed.
1.0
Shelem released.

Shelem is a popular trick-taking card game played with a standard 52-card deck. It is similar to other trick-taking games like Hearts and Spades, but with unique rules and strategies. The goal of Shelem is to be the first player or team to reach a predetermined score by taking tricks and fulfilling certain objectives.

Gameplay

Shelem is typically played by four players in two partnerships, with partners sitting opposite each other. The game starts with the player to the left of the dealer dealing 13 cards to each player. The remaining 13 cards are placed face down in the center of the table to form the "kitty."

Each trick consists of four cards, one played by each player in turn. The player who plays the highest card of the suit led wins the trick and leads the next card. If a player cannot follow suit, they can play a trump card or discard a card.

Bidding

Before the first trick, players participate in a bidding process to determine the contract for the hand. Each player bids on the number of tricks they believe they can take, plus an additional number of points for fulfilling certain objectives. The minimum bid is 1, and the maximum bid is 13.

The player with the highest bid becomes the "declarer." The declarer's partner becomes the "dummy," who plays their hand face up on the table. The other two players form the opposing team.

Objectives

In addition to taking tricks, players can earn points by fulfilling certain objectives:

* Shelem: Taking all 13 tricks in a hand.

* Little Shelem: Taking 12 tricks in a hand.

* Bag: Taking all the tricks in a suit.

* Suit: Taking a certain number of tricks in a suit.

* No Trump: Taking a certain number of tricks without using any trump cards.

Scoring

Points are awarded as follows:

* Trick: 10 points

* Shelem: 200 points

* Little Shelem: 100 points

* Bag: 50 points

* Suit: 25 points

* No Trump: 10 points

The first player or team to reach the predetermined score (typically 500 or 1000 points) wins the game.

Variations

There are numerous variations of Shelem, including:

* Contract Shelem: Players bid on the number of tricks they will take and the objectives they will fulfill.

* Free Shelem: Players do not bid and can take any number of tricks.

* Cutthroat Shelem: Players play individually and try to avoid taking tricks.

* Partnership Shelem: Players form teams of two and work together to take tricks and fulfill objectives.

Strategy

Shelem requires a combination of skill, strategy, and luck. Some key strategies include:

* Assessing your hand: Determine the strength of your hand and the objectives you can realistically achieve.

* Bidding wisely: Bid aggressively if you have a strong hand, but don't overbid and risk losing points.

* Leading strategically: Lead with cards that will force your opponents to play high cards or trump.

* Counting cards: Keep track of the cards that have been played to anticipate what your opponents might have.

* Communicating with your partner: Use signals or subtle hints to convey information about your hand.