The 28 Card Game and How It Differs From 29
Same Jacks, same Nines. Different bidding, different stakes.
The 28 card game is Kerala's close relative of Twenty-Nine: the same 32 cards, the same points (Jack 3, Nine 2, Ace 1, Ten 1, for 28 in the deck) and the same hidden trump. What changes is the bidding and the stakes. In 28 the bidding opens at 14, there can be a second raise once all eight cards are dealt, and a bigger bid wins or loses more game points. Our site plays Twenty-Nine, which opens at 16 and is worth one game point a hand.
28 and 29 side by side
| 28 (Kerala) | 29 (our tables) | |
|---|---|---|
| Deck | 32 cards, 7 up to Ace | 32 cards, 7 up to Ace |
| Points | J 3, 9 2, A 1, 10 1: 28 | J 3, 9 2, A 1, 10 1: 28, no last-trick point |
| First to bid | The player on the dealer's right | The player on the dealer's left |
| Lowest bid | 14 | 16 |
| Second chance to bid | Yes, after all eight cards (a raise to at least 24) | No, one auction on four cards |
| Trump marker | One of the bidder's own cards, face down | Chosen suit, kept face down |
| Game points | Depend on the bid: up to 19 wins 1 or loses 2; 20 to 24 wins 2 or loses 3; 25 and up wins 3 or loses 4 | +1 or −1 a hand (2 if doubled, 4 if redoubled), first to +6 |
| Pair (King and Queen of trumps) | Not part of pagat's 28 rules | Part of the 29 rules, and played on our tables |
| Going alone | Thani: win every trick alone for 4, or lose 5 | Single hand, at tables that play it; not on ours |
What carries over
Four players in fixed partnerships, partners opposite. The pack runs 7 up to Ace in each suit, and in both games the order is J, 9, A, 10, K, Q, 8, 7. You bid on your first four cards for the points your side will take. The high bidder picks the trump without saying it, and it stays hidden until someone who can't follow suit asks. A 28 player who sits down at a 29 table already knows how to count the points and when to play a Jack.
What a 28 player has to unlearn
- The floor is 16, not 14. On our tables the dealer stuck with the bid plays at 16.
- One auction only. There is no second round of bidding after the last four cards arrive.
- The trump card. In 28 the face-down card is one of the bidder's own, and it goes back into their hand at the reveal. Pagat describes 29 players marking the suit with one of the spare low cards (the 2s to 5s) instead. Online, we simply hide the suit.
- Flat stakes. In 29 a bid of 16 and a bid of 25 are both worth one game point unless doubled, so high bids are a pure risk. In 28 the bigger bid pays more.
Where these rules come from
Our Twenty-Nine rules are the ones you can play on this site, written out in full on the how-to page. The account of 28 above comes from the rules published on pagat.com, not from our own tables. If you grew up playing 28 in Kerala and something here misstates your game, tell us and we will correct it.
Can you play 28 here?
No, this site plays Twenty-Nine. A 28 player will be at home within a hand, though: the point order, the hidden trump and the partnership habits all carry over. Deal yourself in against the bots and see.
28 and 29: common questions
Is 28 the same game as 29?
Close relatives. Both use the 32-card pack and the J, 9, A, 10 point order with 28 card points, and both hide the bidder's trump. 28 opens the bidding at 14, allows a second raise after all eight cards are seen, and pays more for higher bids.
Why is it called 28?
For the card points: Jacks 3, Nines 2, Aces 1 and Tens 1 across four suits add up to 28.
Which is older, 28 or 29?
We have not found a reliable source that settles it. Both belong to the Jass family of card games, and we would rather say we don't know than guess.
Where is 28 played?
Pagat describes it as a game from Kerala, in south India. Twenty-Nine is played across much of north India, in Bangladesh and in Nepal.
Can I play 28 online here?
We play Twenty-Nine, free in the browser, against bots or friends. A 28 player will feel at home within a hand or two.
Related pages
- How to Play 29: the complete rules.
- 29 Card Points: J, 9, A, 10 and why the deck holds 28.
- 29 Strategy: bidding, the reveal and counting.
- 29 Variants: regional rules from Bangladesh to Lucknow.
- 29 vs Call Break: the other big comparison.