Texas 42 is a four-player partnership trick-taking game, with partners sitting opposite. Bid for hand points or every trick, name trumps and win captured tiles. First to at least seven match marks wins. Unlike Fives, you do not connect a chain or score its exposed ends.
Players and deal
4 players form two fixed opposite partnerships. Use all 28 double-six tiles, including double blank; pips range from 0 to 6. Deal 7 tiles each, one clockwise at a time from the dealer’s left, with no stock. Choose the first dealer by a fair seat draw; rotate the dealer clockwise after each hand, including an all-pass redeal.
Two different scores
Both partnerships start with zero match marks. Hand points decide whether a bid succeeds; match marks decide the match. Each trick is worth one hand point. Captured [0|5], [1|4] and [2|3] are worth 5 each, while [4|6] and [5|5] are worth 10 each, to the partnership taking the trick. Other tiles add nothing. These 35 counter points plus seven trick points make 42. Do not divide these points by five.
One-round auction
Beginning at the dealer’s left, each player bids or passes once clockwise. A point bid from 30 to 41 must exceed the current point bid. Any all-tricks bid outranks point bids. The first all-tricks bid is at most 2 marks; thereafter each higher bid adds exactly 1 mark. Highest bidder declares and leads. If everyone passes, rotate the dealer and redeal without awarding a mark.
Point bids are whole numbers. The first all-tricks bid may be for one or two match marks. Passing is an auction choice only: every player must contribute a tile to a trick.
Trumps, following and rank
The bidder chooses a numbered trump suit from 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, doubles as trumps, or no trumps with doubles high. A trump tile belongs only to the trump suit. A nontrump lead names its higher printed number; for following, either printed half can match that suit. Follow the led suit if possible; otherwise play any tile, without compulsory trumping. Highest trump wins, otherwise highest in the led suit. A double is highest in its numbered suit; other tiles rank by their other half. Doubles trumps rank by pip value. The bidder may lead any held tile.
Tricks and hand points
Each player contributes one tile clockwise. Following suit and the trump ranking decide who takes the trick; that player leads next. A full hand has seven tricks, but deciding the contract can end it sooner.
With sixes as trumps, [5|6] belongs only to trumps, not to fives. In the example A leads [5|5], B follows with [3|5] and C plays [0|5]. D has no tile of the fives suit, so may play trump [6|6]. D takes the trick and its 1 + 10 + 5 = 16 hand points. At most 26 remain for the bidders, so A's bid of 30 is set. B+D receive one match mark; 16 hand points do not become 16 match marks.
Following suit and deciding a trick
Sixes are trumps in this example. Follow fives if you hold that suit; otherwise any tile is allowed. The partnership taking the trick receives its hand points.
The number beside a tile shows play order.Only captured faces you may inspect are shown.
Following fives
Following fives — Current trick
No captured tiles
A leads [5|5] and B plays [3|5]. Both belong to fives; trump [5|6] does not.
A leads [5|5] and B plays [3|5]. Both belong to fives; trump [5|6] does not. Contract: Hand-point bid: 30, 6 trump, All captured tricks visible. Bidder: A. Played tiles in order: 1. A [5|5]; 2. B [3|5]. Hand tile counts: A=6, B=6, C=7, D=7. Visible captured faces: none.
Trump wins and the contract is set
Trump wins and the contract is set — Current trick
Trick 1 · D · 16 hand points
Trick 1 · B + D
D wins with [6|6], taking 16 hand points for the defending partnership. A+C cannot reach 30, so B+D receive one match mark.
D wins with [6|6], taking 16 hand points for the defending partnership. A+C cannot reach 30, so B+D receive one match mark. Contract: Hand-point bid: 30, 6 trump, All captured tricks visible. Bidder: A. Played tiles in order: 1. A [5|5]; 2. B [3|5]; 3. C [0|5]; 4. D [6|6]. Hand tile counts: A=6, B=6, C=6, D=6. Visible captured faces: 1 (B+D) [0|5], [3|5], [5|5], [6|6].
Contract and match marks
An ordinary bid promises at least its bid in hand points and has a stake of 1 in match marks; an all-tricks bid promises every trick and is worth its offered marks. End the hand when public captures prove the contract made or impossible. An all-tricks contract fails at the defenders’ first trick. Award the stake only to the bidding pair if made, otherwise only to defenders. First to at least 7 marks wins; no win-by-two or overshoot penalty.
For example, a partnership on six marks makes a two-mark contract and reaches eight. Eight wins: there is no requirement to land exactly on seven.
Captured tricks and review
The current trick shows its tiles and players, while the bid and trumps remain visible. In an ordinary contract you may inspect every captured face. For an all-tricks contract, the auction winner chooses one or two capture stacks when declaring trumps, before the first lead. Only the latest one or two completed tricks stay face-up; covers advance only when a trick is complete. During the hand, collected faces are not linked to their original players. After the hand you may review played actions and their players, but unplayed private hands stay hidden.
Which captured tricks may you inspect?
Three tricks have been played in each example. An ordinary contract shows every captured face. An all-tricks contract shows only the tops of the declared one or two stacks. Collected tiles are not linked back to their original players or play order.
The number beside a tile shows play order.Only captured faces you may inspect are shown.
Ordinary contract: three visible tricks
Ordinary contract: three visible tricks — Current trick
Trick 1 · A + C
Trick 2 · A + C
Trick 3 · A + C
All 12 tiles in the three completed tricks can be inspected, without their original player assignments.
All 12 tiles in the three completed tricks can be inspected, without their original player assignments. Contract: Hand-point bid: 30, No trump, All captured tricks visible. Bidder: A. Played tiles in order: none. Hand tile counts: A=4, B=4, C=4, D=4. Visible captured faces: 1 (A+C) [0|6], [1|6], [2|6], [6|6]; 2 (A+C) [0|5], [1|5], [3|5], [5|5]; 3 (A+C) [0|4], [1|4], [3|4], [4|4].
One stack: only trick three
One stack: only trick three — Current trick
Trick 3 · A + C
Only the four faces of the third trick are visible. The first two tricks are covered.
Only the four faces of the third trick are visible. The first two tricks are covered. Contract: All tricks · match-mark stake: 1, No trump, During the hand: Only the latest completed trick may be viewed. Bidder: A. Played tiles in order: none. Hand tile counts: A=4, B=4, C=4, D=4. Visible captured faces: 3 (A+C) [0|4], [1|4], [3|4], [4|4].
Two stacks: tricks two and three
Two stacks: tricks two and three — Current trick
Trick 2 · A + C
Trick 3 · A + C
The eight faces of the second and third tricks are visible. The first trick is covered.
The eight faces of the second and third tricks are visible. The first trick is covered. Contract: All tricks · match-mark stake: 1, No trump, During the hand: Up to 2 latest completed tricks may be viewed. Bidder: A. Played tiles in order: none. Hand tile counts: A=4, B=4, C=4, D=4. Visible captured faces: 2 (A+C) [0|5], [1|5], [3|5], [5|5]; 3 (A+C) [0|4], [1|4], [3|4], [4|4].
Playing digitally
Scores are recorded automatically. An illegal action is refused without changing the hand, and remaining tiles keep their order. There is no clock or cash stake. A manual claim to the remaining tricks or a physical-game penalty does not replace playing the tiles.