How to Play Zole

The complete trump suit in the game Zole

Zole is a Latvian trick taking game which appears to be a derivative of the German game Schafskopf (Sheepshead). This game is also often played under the name Zolite and in older card game books is referred to as Revelite. The game is so popular in it's country of origin that not only is it considered the National game of Latvia but it is even included in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage as a key aspect of the country.

Zole is designed for play by 3 players, each playing independently and using a reduced 26 card deck. This deck can thus be created from a standard 52 card deck by removing all cards of rank two, three, four, five and six. In addition the sevens and eights in the suits of spades, clubs and hearts are also removed. The game uses a permanent trump suit, which contains all cards in the suit of diamonds as well as all four Queens and all four Jacks. Thus, the following is the full trump suit (shown in rank from highest to lowest): Queen of clubs (♣), Queen of spades (♠), Queen of hearts (♥), Queen of diamonds (♦), Jack of clubs (♣), Jack of spades (♠), Jack of hearts (♥), Jack of diamonds (♦), Ace of diamonds (♦), 10 of diamonds (♦), King of diamonds (♦), 9 of diamonds (♦), 8 of diamonds (♦), 7 of diamonds (♦).

In the three non-trump suits (hearts, clubs and spades), which contain only four cards each, the ranking is as follows (also shown from highest to lowest): Ace, 10, King, 9.

It must be noted that all cards in the permanent trump suit are considered part of this trump suit (regardless of the actual suit printed on the card), and thus can and should be played at any time a card from the trump suit would be played.

Determination of the first dealer can be performed using a variety of methods, with a draw for high cards commonly used. Using this method each player would draw one card from the shuffle deck, with any players drawing equal cards, discarding those cards and drawing another. Whichever player thus draws the highest card would be set as the first dealer. After each hand, the role of dealer rotates in a clockwise direction around the table. Once determined, the dealer would then thoroughly shuffle the deck and offer it to the player at his right to cut. After the cut, the dealer then begins distributing the cards in a clockwise rotation, starting with the player at his left. He first deals each player a four card face-down packet. He then deals a two card face-down talon to the middle of the table and then deals each player another four card, face-down packet.

Once the players have each been dealt a total of eight cards, a round of bidding occurs. The bidding starts with the player to the immediate left of the dealer, continuing in a clockwise rotation around the table. The following are the possible bids a player can make:

Pass:
Ordinary Game:
Solo:
Small Solo:

Once any player makes a bid (other than Pass), the bidding round immediately ends with the bidding player being set as the Declarer or the Soloist.

Once a bidder has been determined, play of the hand begins. The player to the left of the dealer leads the first card to the first trick and each other player, in a clockwise direction then adds one card to the same trick.

The leader to a trick may play any card of choice remaining in his hand. Each other player, in turn, must then play a card of the same suit as originally led to the trick if they have one. If the player has no such cards, they may then play a card from any suit, including from the permanent trump suit.

After all three players have played one card to the trick, it is identified who has won the trick. Each trick is won by the player of the highest card from the trump suit found in the trick. If the trick contains no cards from the permanent trump suit, it is instead won by the highest card in the suit originally led to it. Cards won in tricks are set aside, face-down near the player winning the trick, and the leader of each trick leads the first card to the next trick.

After all eight tricks have been completed, the card points are added to determine scoring for the hand. In a bid of "Ordinary Game" or "Solo" the talon card or those discarded by the Declarer are added either to those captured by the Declarer or those by the combined opponents. Each card captured has an equivalent card point value as per the following chart:

Card	Card Point Value
Ace	11 Each
Ten	10 Each
King	4 Each
Queen	3 Each
Jack	2 Each
9, 8, 7	0

If the Declarer believes they would be unable to take the majority of the card points, they may opt to surrender. They may thus surrender any time during the hand, up to the first lead of the third trick. They will still lose the hand, and lose some score, but do not risk losing additional points. The option to surrender is not available in a bid of "Small Solo".

If the bid was "Small Solo" the Soloist attempts to win zero tricks during the hand. If the Declarer manages to thus complete the hand without winning even one trick, that player earns 6 Game Points for each other player and each opponent loses 6 Game Points. However, if the Declarer wins a trick, the hand immediately ends and each opponent earns 7 Game Points and the Declarer loses 7 Game Points per opponent.

If the Declarer bid an "Ordinary Game" and wins every trick, the Declarer earns 3 Game Points per opponent, and each opponent loses 3 Game Points. If the Declarer bid a Solo and wins every trick, he wins 6 Game Points per opponent, and each opponent loses 6 points.

If the Declarer bid an "Ordinary Game" and wins 91 or more card points (but not every trick) he earns 2 Game Points per each opponent and each opponent loses 2. If the bid was Solo, and he does the same, he earns 5 Game Points per opponent and each opponent must subtract 5.

If the Declarer bid an "Ordinary Game" and wins from 61 to 90 card points during the hand, he earns 1 Game Point per each opponent and each opponent must subtract 1. However, if the bid was Solo in this circumstance, the Declarer wins 4 points from each opponent and each opponent loses 4.

If on the other hand, the Declarer earns captures from 31 to 60 points, and he bid an "Ordinary Game", the Declarer loses 2 Game Points per each opponent, and each opponent earns 2 Game Points. If the bid was Solo instead, the Declarer loses 5 points per opponent and each opponent earns 5.

Similarly, if the Declarer captures fewer than 30 card points in an "Ordinary Game" bid, but wins at least one trick, he loses 3 Game Points per opponent, and each opponent earns 3 Game Points. If the bid was instead Solo, he loses 6 Game Points per opponent, and each opponent earns 6.

If the Declarer wins no tricks and the bid was an "Ordinary Game", he loses 4 Game Points per opponent, and each opponent earns 4 Game Points. If the bid was Solo, the Declarer loses 7 Game Points per opponent and each Opponent wins 7 Game points.

As mentioned above, if all three players pass, the hand is played at "table" with the goal being somewhat different. In this event, each player attempts to take the fewest tricks during the hand. Whichever player wins the most tricks during the hand loses 2 Game Points per each opponent, and each opponent earns 2 Game Points. If there is a tie for most tricks won during the hand, the player, amongst those tying for the most tricks won, which captured the most card points loses the 2 Game Points (per opponent) and the opponents earn 2 each.

At the end of a full game session, whichever player manages to have earned the most total Game Points is declared the overall session winner.

Variations and Optional Rules

Four Player Zole: Although Zole is really designed to be a three player game, it can, and often is, played by four total participants. In this event, the dealer of each hand receives no cards and does not play in that hand. However, this player scores Game Points during each hand equal to that as scored by each of the opponents of the Declarer. Thus this player will either add or subtract the same number of Game Points from him ongoing total as each of the active opponents of the Declarer on the current hand.