How to Play Batak: Rules of Auction Batak
Batak is a Turkish trick-taking card game for four players with a 52-card deck. After the deal (13 cards each) comes an auction: players bid how many tricks they'll take, at least 4. The highest bidder names trumps and leads. You must follow suit and play higher if you can; with none of the suit you must trump. Every trick is worth 1 point. The bidder who makes the bid scores their tricks; one who falls short loses the bid (batar).
Players and cards
Batak uses a standard 52-card deck (Ace high) and four players. In auction Batak (ihaleli batak) everyone plays for themselves; in partners Batak (eşli batak) the players sitting across from each other form a team. Play goes round to the right (counter-clockwise), as is usual in Turkey.
You can try every rule below in Batak on GameLake, against Hops the frog and his pond friends Shelly and Pip.
The deal
Shuffle and deal all 52 cards so each player has 13. The deal moves to the right after each hand.
The auction (ihale)
Starting with the player to the dealer's right, each player either bids a number of tricks or passes. Each bid must be higher than the last. The minimum bid is 4 (7 in partners Batak) and the maximum is 13. A player who passes is out of the auction for this hand.
- The auction ends when everyone else has passed (or someone bids 13).
- If the first three players pass, the dealer must take it at the minimum or more.
- The winner of the auction is the bidder (ihaleyi alan).
Naming trumps (koz)
The bidder names the trump suit (koz) and leads the first trick. Choose the suit where you have the most cards and the highest ones: trumps win any trick they're played on.
Playing the tricks
Batak has stricter rules than most trick-taking games:
- Follow suit. If you have a card of the suit led, you must play it.
- Play higher if you can. If you can beat the highest card of that suit already in the trick, you must (yükseltme zorunluluğu).
- No card of the suit? Trump. You must play a trump, and a higher trump than any already in the trick if you can.
- No suit and no trumps? Then you may play any card.
The trick is won by the highest trump, or if there's no trump in it, by the highest card of the suit led. The winner leads the next trick.
Breaking trumps
Trumps can't be led until a trump has been played on another suit (koz kırılmadan koz açılmaz). Once trumps are broken, anyone may lead them. A player holding nothing but trumps may lead one at any time.
Scoring and going down (batmak)
| Player | Took | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Bidder (bid 6) | 7 tricks | +7 |
| Bidder (bid 6) | 5 tricks | −6 (batar) |
| Other players | any | +1 per trick |
A game is a set number of hands (on GameLake 3, 5 or 10). The player with the highest total wins; a tie at the top plays one more hand.
Partners Batak (eşli batak)
In partners Batak, the players across from each other are a team and their tricks count together, for the bid too. The minimum bid is 7. Everything else is the same. On GameLake you play partners Batak with Hops across from you, against Shelly and Pip.
Ready to bid better? Read our Batak strategy guide, or play Batak and press Teach me for Hops' advice on every bid and card.
Frequently asked questions
How many cards does each player get in Batak?
Thirteen. The whole 52-card deck is dealt between four players.
What is the minimum bid in Batak?
Four in auction Batak and seven in partners Batak. If everyone passes, the dealer must take it at the minimum.
Do you have to play a higher card in Batak?
Yes. If you can beat the highest card of the suit led that's already in the trick, you must. The same goes for trumps.
Can you lead trumps in Batak?
Not until trumps are broken, meaning someone has trumped another suit. If you hold only trumps, you may lead one.
What happens if the bidder doesn't make the bid?
They go down (batar) and lose as many points as they bid. The other players still score the tricks they took.
What is the difference between auction Batak and partners Batak?
In auction Batak everyone plays alone and the minimum bid is 4. In partners Batak, players across from each other are a team, their tricks count together, and the minimum bid is 7.