Join us for an afternoon of 25. Light refreshments and prizes for the winners included.

How to play:

The game of 25 can be played with any number of players, although 5–10 players is ideal, with no more than 10 recommended. The aim of the game is simple: be the first player to reach 25 points. Each trick won is worth 5 points.

To begin, any player can deal the cards until the first Ace appears. The player who receives the first Ace becomes the dealer. The dealer then gives each player five cards and turns over the next card in the deck. This card determines the trump suit for the round.

Once the trump suit is known, players can look at their hands to see how many trump cards they hold. Generally, the more trumps you have, the better your chances of winning tricks and reaching 25.

The player to the dealer’s left leads the first trick. If a trump card is led, the other players must follow with a trump if they have one. If they do not have a trump, they may play another card. Failing to play a trump when required is known as reneging.

Players may choose to play a trump card at other times during the game. The Ace of Hearts is always considered a trump, regardless of which suit is trump for that round. When ranking the trump cards, the 5 of the trump suit is the highest card, followed by the Jack of trumps, and then the Ace of Hearts.

A useful saying to remember when learning the game is: “The more of the red, and the less of the black.” It is also important to keep an eye on each player’s score, particularly when someone is getting close to 25. Preventing another player from reaching 25 is known as keeping the game “in.”

The best way to learn is to sit down and play with people who know the game well. These basic rules should give you enough of an introduction to get started.