Pip-Pip is designed to be played by 3 to 12 players, but is usually at it's best for 6 to 8. The game uses two standard 52 card decks. The ranking of the cards in the game Pip-Pip is as follows (from highest to lowest); 2, Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3.
Before play begins, all participants should draw a card from a thoroughly shuffled deck. The player drawing the highest card is set as the first dealer. In addition, the suit of the high card drawn by this player should be noted, as this suit will be set as the trump suit for the first hand. If multiple players tie for a card of the highest denomination in this draw, those players should set those cards aside and draw an additional card amongst themselves to determine who will be the first dealer. If there is any dispute as to seating positions at the table, the players can also select seats at the table in the order of cards drawn (starting with the highest card drawn). After each hand the role of the dealer rotates in a clockwise direction around the table. After the first hand of each game, the player to the immediate left of the dealer cuts the deck, with the randomly selected card determining the suit to be used for the trump suit for the next hand.
Once the first dealer has been determined, that player should thoroughly shuffle the cards and offer the deck to the player at his right to cut. After the cut, the dealer then begins dealing the cards in a clockwise direction around the table, one card at a time and face-down. He begins with the player at his immediate left. He continues dealing until each player has a total of 7 cards. The dealer places the remainder of the deck face down in a pile in the center of the table as the stock pile.
The player to the immediate left of the dealer leads the first card to the first trick. He may lead any card of his choice from his hand. Each subsequent player, in proper turn then plays a card of his own to the trick. If a player has a card of the suit originally led to the trick he may play it. If he does not have such a card he may play any card from his hand, including a card of the current trump suit. After each player has played one card to the trick, the winner of the trick is determined.
The trick is won by the highest card of the trump suit played to the trick. If the trick contains no cards of the trump suit, it is won by the player of the highest card of the suit originally led to the trick. If two players tie for the highest card played to the trick, the second of those two cards played to the trick is determined the winner. The winner of each trick takes the cards from the trick and places them face-down in a won-tricks pile for scoring at the end of the hand. The winner of each trick also leads the first card to the next trick.
As soon as a player plays a card to a trick he immediately draws the top card from the stock, adding it to his hand. Once the stock pile is reduced to a number of cards which is fewer than the number of players in the game, these remaining cards in the stock are exposed for all players to see but are not used further in the play. Once this occurs, players no longer draw after playing a card, they simply play out the remaining 7 cards in the hand.
Calling Pip-Pip: If a player, at any time finds that he has in hand, a King and Queen of the same suit that which is not of the same suit as the current trump suit, he may immediately call "Pip-Pip". This will score that player 50 points and also change the current trump suit, starting with the next complete trick after the current trick has been won. The trump suit is changed to the suit of the King and Queen. When calling "Pip-Pip" the player must place the cards face-up in front of himself for verification and allow the other players to see the new trump suit. Although the cards are set out on the table, they are still considered to be part of that player's hand and can be played at needed by the player. This combination of King and Queen is called a Marriage.
Similarly, if a player is initially dealt a King and Queen of the same suit, which is not the same as the trump suit for the hand, he may also call "Pip-Pip" scoring 50 points, and changing the trump suit for the hand before the first trick. If multiple players call "Pip-Pip" each scores the 50 point bonus, but the trump suit is set by the first player to make the call. If a player has two Kings and two Queens of the same suit (which are different than the current trump suit) he may declare "Pip-Pip" twice, scoring 50 points for each. Any specific card can only be used for one call of Pip-Pip. A player is never obligated to declare Pip-Pip if he would rather not for strategic reasons.
After the players play the last card in hand, the cards captured by each player during the hand are examined for scoring. Certain cards captured score points for the capturing player. The following chart shows these point scoring cards and the point value for it's capture:
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After the deal, the bidding phase of the game begins. The bidding is started with the player to the immediate right of the dealer, and continues in a clockwise direction after that player
(with the dealer being the second bidder). This player must make a bid of 110 or pass. After this player, the dealer is the second player with an option to bid. If the first player bid, the dealer may make a bid of 120 or may pass. The bidding continues around the table in this manner, with each player in turn either raising the bid by exactly 10 points or passing. Once a player passes during the bidding he may no longer make any further bids during the current hand. Once a bid is followed by two consecutive passes, that player becomes the high bidder. If at the start of the bidding, the first two players pass, the third player is required to make a bid of 110, but also make a special bid of 100, with several restrictions on play if doing so.
