The game Cắt tê

1 game

1.1 deck
1.2 play overview

1.2.1 trick-play
1.2.2 sped-up play
1.2.3 scoring


1.3 automatic winning hands
1.4 penalty holding ace
1.5 side pot

the game

it can played 3-6 players. gambling essential part of cắt tê. in mahjongg, there 1 betting round per game; , players make same bet, , there additional rewards , penalties outcomes. possible player required forfeit more additional bet @ conclusion of game. object of cắt tê either:

win of first 4 tricks played in round; or
win sixth trick played.

after fourth trick, players have won no tricks eliminated, not possible win sixth trick without winning 1 of first 4 tricks. there never more 6 tricks played per game.

the deck

cắt tê played standard deck of 52 cards, jokers removed. in bridge, rank-order a-k-q-j-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2, high low. there no trump suit.

play overview

cắt tê played in rounds, each of includes initial bet, deal, play of tricks, , settlement of obligations incurred during play. @ conclusion of each round, players contribute agreed-upon sum form pot.

for first round of play, winner of prior round has privilege of dealing. initial round; deal can chosen lot, or other means agreed upon players. dealer deals 6 cards each player, in counter-clockwise order. remaining cards removed play.

trick-play

a round of cắt tê consists of either 4 or 6 tricks. dealer has lead on initial trick; winner of each trick leads subsequent trick. play standard no-trump trick-taking. players not required follow suit; nor required attempt win trick if able. there no penalty cards in game. @ time, player may slough (play card face-down); when done player ineligible win trick. after 4 tricks have been played, 1 of 2 situations have occurred:

one player have won 4 tricks: if occurs, player winner of round. he/she collects pot, , becomes dealer next round. if 4 or more players play (depending on house or regional rules), player additionally entitled double winnings—the other players must pay winner additional amount equal initial bet.
two or more players have won @ least 1 trick: (there no advantage winning more 1 trick in first 4 rounds). players have failed win tricks eliminated further play @ point; players have won @ least 1 trick may continue.

at point, 5th trick played. winner of 4th trick leads 1 of 2 remaining cards. other remaining players play card face down; after cards played, overturned. winner of 5th trick leads last trick; remaining cards shown. winner of 6th trick wins round, , pot.

sped-up play

players may, @ time, fold hand throwing cards face-down onto table. player eliminated remainder of round. not excused, however, paying double should rules require it. there no tactical advantage folding.

players exceptionally strong hands may claim win displaying remaining cards. if hand indeed unbeatable, win round, if hand had been played out normally. if hand not unbeatable, however, penalized. again, there no tactical advantage in claiming win in manner.

scoring

there no scoring such in cắt tê, accumulation of winnings. @ end of each round, winner collects pot, , bonuses due him other players.

automatic winning hands

in games of cắt tê, following hands automatic wins—if player dealt 1 of these hands, may display , round ends. player may win pot, or double pot, depending on rules employed:

a hand containing 4 of kind, of rank, regardless of 2 other cards. note hand containing 4 aces automatic win, regardless of whether optional rule employed.
a hand containing flush, consisting of 6 cards of same suit. note poker flush, 5 of same suit not sufficient.

penalty holding ace

it common strategy player hand rich in particular suit, , believes, keep playing suit until exhausted, in attempt win fourth trick while playing low cards. winning fourth trick advantageous. conversely, if 1 suspects opponent doing this, hold onto high card in suit until fourth trick played, in attempt win pivotal fourth trick, optional penalty rule employed, triggered when:

a player wins first 4 tricks wins double opponents bets.
one player wins first 3 tricks, playing cards same suit.
another player holds ace of suit, , not play it—in order wait last trick.
the player wins first 3 tricks leads different suit in fourth trick, winning that.

if occurs, , rule in force, player withheld ace required pay penalty other losing opponents. example, if initial bet $1, , occurs in four-player game; guilty player forfeits additional $3--his share of four-trick bonus, plus of 2 other losing opponents.

side pot

one other common variation maintenance of side pot. in addition normal bet, @ start of each round, set figure bet side pot. @ completion of deal, 1 additional card deck upturned. if player has next card of same suit, entitled claim side pot. may @ time during round, until cards collected , shuffled next round. if no player has winning card, or player forgets claim side pot, pot accumulates until won.

the side pot separate main game play; player need not win main round, or win single trick, claim side pot.