Card & Game Tables

500 is a trick-taking card game based on Euchre. The game was invented and copyrighted by the United States Playing Card Company in 1904. 500 is played as a social card game and was highly popular in the United States until about 1920 when auction bridge surpassed it. more...

Home
Bath
Bedding
Furniture
Bedroom Furniture
Children's Furniture
Dining Room Furniture
Kitchen Furniture
Living Room, General...
Bean Bags, Inflatables
Benches
Bookcases
CD, Video Racks
Chairs
Armchairs, Club Chairs
Barcelona Chairs
Folding Chairs
Lounge Chairs
Other Chairs
Recliners
Rocking Chairs, Gliders
Theater Seating
Chests, Cabinets
Entertainment Ctrs, TV...
Futons, Futon Covers
Futon Covers
Futon Frames
Futons
Other Futons, Futon Covers
Occasional Tables
Card & Game Tables
Coffee Tables
Console, Sofa Tables
End Tables
Other Tables
Table Sets
Tray Tables
Other Furniture
Ottomans, Footstools
Sofas, Loveseats
Loveseats
Other
Sectionals
Sets
Sofa Beds, Sleeper Sofas
Sofas
Trunks
Office
Gardening & Plants
Home Decor
Lamps, Lighting, Ceiling...
Patio & Grilling
Pools & Spas
Rugs & Carpets

It remained the most popular card game in Australia and New Zealand and is also widely played in French Canada.

Setup

Of the many variants to 500, the standard deck contains 43 playing cards: a Joker is included, and the 2s, 3s, and black 4s are removed. 10 cards are dealt to each of the four players and three are dealt face down on the table to form the kitty (also known as the widow or the blind.) Alternatively, a 45 card deck can be used, in which case the 4s are not removed. Each player still receives a hand of 10 cards, but the kitty is increased to five cards.

Players play in pairs, usually opposite each other. Traditionally, a bundle of three cards is dealt to each player, one to the kitty, a bundle of four to each player, one to the kitty, a bundle of three to each player, one to the kitty or with a 45 card deck: the deal is performed by dealing three cards to each player, then placing three cards in the kitty, four cards each and two to the kitty, and then three.

As in Euchre, in non-trump suits, the order of cards from highest to lowest is Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, (4). In the trump suit, the highest card is the Joker, followed by the jack of trump—called the right bower—and then the jack of the suit of the same color as the trump suit—the left bower. The left bower is considered part of the trump suit. Then, the order of cards in the trump suit from highest to lowest is Joker, Right Bower, Left Bower, Ace, King, Queen, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, (4).

Bower is an Anglicization of the German Bauer, a word meaning farmer, peasant, or pawn. This name is often used to refer to the jack of German games. This is important later in the game, and is usually known by newcomers as the hardest part to learn about the game.

In Australia decks of cards are for sale especially for 500, with 11's, 12's and red 13's included.

Bidding

Bidding rules vary significantly. Common rules are described below. They may not be the rules used in your area.

After the deal, players call in turn, electing either to bid or to pass. A bid indicates the combined number of tricks the bidder believes he and his partner will take and the suit that will be trump for that hand, or that there will be no trump suit. For instance, a bid of "seven spades" indicates that the player intends to win seven or more tricks with spades being the trump suit, whereas a bid of "seven no-trumps" indicates that the player intends to win seven or more tricks with no trump suit (in which case the only trump card is the joker).

Read more at Wikipedia.org