How to play Rikiki (Oh Hell)
Rikiki is a trick-taking card game with bidding from the Oh Hell family (also known as Oh Pshaw, Nomination Whist, Blob or Up and Down the River, depending on the country). It is played by 3 to 8 players with a standard 52-card deck. The idea fits in one sentence: each round, bid exactly how many tricks you will win. Not more, not fewer.
Goal of the game
Each round, every player bids how many tricks they expect to win. A player who wins exactly their bid makes their contract and scores points; the others lose points. After the last round, the player with the most points wins the game.
The deal: a different number of cards each round
The number of cards dealt changes every round: you start with 1 card, then 2, then 3, and so on. In online Rikiki the host can also choose to go up then down, only down, or play a pyramid, and start a quick game of 5 rounds.
Trump
After the deal, the next card of the deck is turned over: its suit becomes the trump suit. When every card of the deck has been dealt, there is no trump that round.
Bidding
Each player bids in turn how many tricks they plan to win, starting with the player to the left of the dealer. The dealer bids last and has a restriction: they cannot bid the number that would make the total of all bids exactly equal the number of tricks in the round. So at least one player is bound to miss their contract.
Bidding zero is allowed, but not more than 3 rounds in a row: a fourth zero is forbidden, you must try to win at least one trick (this limit is lifted in quick games).
Playing the tricks
- The first player plays a card. The others must follow suit if they can.
- No card of the suit led? Play anything: a trump to ruff, or any other card to discard.
- The highest trump wins the trick. If there is no trump in the trick, the highest card of the suit led wins. Card order, lowest to highest: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace.
- The winner of the trick leads the next one.
The blind round (1 card)
With 1 card, you cannot see your own card, but you see everyone else's, as if each player held theirs on their forehead. Bid based on what you see.
Scoring
Contract made exactly: a fixed bonus plus points for each trick won. Contract missed: a penalty for each trick of difference between your bid and your result. In online Rikiki the host sets the scoring in the lobby before the game starts.
Play online or with real cards
- Online: create a game, share the 4-character code with your friends, fill the table with bots if needed. Everything runs in your browser: no install, no ads.
- With real cards: play around a table and let the app keep the score sheet.
- League and ranking: online games with 4 or more human players count for the league.
Frequently asked questions
Are Rikiki and Oh Hell the same game?
Yes, they are variants of the same family: a trick-taking game where you bid your number of tricks in advance. The core rules are the same; details such as the number of cards or the scoring differ by region.
How many players?
From 3 to 8 players. You can fill the table with bots.
Can I play Rikiki online for free?
Yes. Rikiki is free, with no ads and no tracking cookie.
Do I need to install anything?
No, the game runs in your browser on computers, tablets and phones. The interface is available in English and French.